Please explain Timer event async/await syntax

Question

I researched the asynch and await syntax here and here. It really helps to understand the usage but I found an intriguing syntax example on MSDN which I just don\'t understa

Answer 1

It assigns an async lambda to the Elapsed event of timer. You can understand the async lambda this way: first, the following is a lambda:

(sender, e) => HandleTimer()

this lambda calls HandleTimer synchronously. Then we add an await to call HandleTimer asynchronously:

(sender, e) => await HandleTimer()

but this won't work because to call something asynchronously you have to be asynchronous yourself, hence the async keyword:

async (sender, e) => await HandleTimer()

Answer 2

The code you've given is an anonymous function written as a lambda expression.

So what's really happening is that for the timer elapsed event you're assigning the EventHandler as async ( sender, e ) => await HandleTimer();.

which translates to something like

timer.Elapsed += AnonFunc;

async void AnonFunc(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    await HandleTImer();
}

It seems that it's the lambda that's tripping you up.

Answer 3

This is just an asynchronous lambda expression. It's equivalent to:

timer.Elapsed = CallHandleTimer;

async void CallHandleTimer(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    await HandleTimer();
}