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🧠 C# Anonymous Methods – Inline Delegates Made Simple

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🧲 Introduction – Why Use Anonymous Methods in C#?

In modern C# programming, especially in event-driven or delegate-based code, sometimes you need a quick way to define logic without naming the method. This is where anonymous methods shine. They provide a way to create inline methods without declaring them separately—ideal for one-time-use actions and reducing code clutter.

🎯 In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What anonymous methods are in C#
• Syntax and usage with delegates and events
• Comparison with lambda expressions
• Real-world use cases and best practices

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🔍 Core Concept – What Is an Anonymous Method?

An anonymous method is a method without a name, defined using the delegate keyword, and assigned to a delegate variable or passed directly as a delegate parameter.

🔣 Syntax:

delegate(int x, int y)
{
    return x + y;
};

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💻 Code Example – Anonymous Method with Delegate

delegate void Greet(string name);

Greet greetUser = delegate(string name)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Hello, {name}!");
};

greetUser("Alice");

📥 Output:

Hello, Alice!

🧵 Explanation:

• delegate(string name) { ... } defines an anonymous method.
• It’s assigned directly to a delegate variable (greetUser).
• Called like a normal method.

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🔁 Anonymous Methods vs Named Methods

Feature	Named Method	Anonymous Method
Requires a name	✅ Yes	❌ No
Reusable	✅ Yes	❌ One-time use
Inline declaration	❌ No	✅ Yes
Use Case	General-purpose methods	Delegates, callbacks, events

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🧠 Anonymous Method with Event Handling

button.Click += delegate(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Button clicked!");
};

📘 Use Case: Event handling in Windows Forms or WPF without writing a separate handler method.

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⚡ Anonymous Method with Return Value

delegate int Square(int num);

Square sq = delegate(int x)
{
    return x * x;
};

Console.WriteLine(sq(5)); // Output: 25

📘 Use Case: Return-based logic inside delegates.

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💡 Anonymous Method vs Lambda Expression

// Anonymous Method
delegate(string msg)
{
    Console.WriteLine(msg);
};

// Lambda Expression (preferred)
msg => Console.WriteLine(msg);

📘 Best Practice: Prefer lambda expressions for shorter, cleaner syntax in modern C#.

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📋 Limitations of Anonymous Methods

• Cannot access ref or out parameters from outer scope.
• Less concise than lambda expressions.
• Cannot be used with async directly (use lambdas instead).

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💡 Best Practices & Tips

💡 Tip: Use anonymous methods only when needed—for quick logic inside delegates or events.

⚠️ Pitfall: Don’t overuse; if logic is long or reused, create a named method.

📘 Best Practice: Replace anonymous methods with lambda expressions (=>) in C# 3.0+ for cleaner syntax.

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🛠️ Real-World Use Cases

• 🔘 Event handlers in UI frameworks (WinForms, WPF)
• 🧪 Passing quick logic to LINQ methods (though lambda is preferred)
• ⏱️ Timer callbacks or background worker actions
• 🧩 Inline sorting/comparison logic

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📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps

🧵 Key Takeaways:

• Anonymous methods let you define inline delegates without names.
• Ideal for one-off event handlers or small delegate-based logic.
• Prefer lambda expressions in modern C# for conciseness.

⚙️ Real-world relevance: Useful in UI event programming, threading callbacks, and legacy LINQ applications.

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❓ FAQ Section

❓ What is the difference between an anonymous method and a lambda expression in C#?
✅ Anonymous methods use delegate syntax, while lambda expressions use =>. Lambdas are more concise and preferred.

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❓ Can anonymous methods have parameters?
✅ Yes, they can define and accept parameters just like regular methods.

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❓ Can I use async in anonymous methods?
❌ No. Use lambda expressions for async logic.

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❓ When should I use an anonymous method over a named method?
✅ Use anonymous methods when logic is short, single-use, and tied closely to an event or delegate.

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❓ Are anonymous methods still used today?
✅ Rarely. Since C# 3.0, lambda expressions are more commonly used due to cleaner syntax.

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