Action Delegate:
Action is also a delegate type defined in the System namespace. An Action type delegate is the same as Func delegate except that the Action delegate doesn't return a value. In other words, an Action delegate can be used with a method that has a void return type.
For example, the following delegate prints an int value.
Example: C# Delegate
public delegate void Print(int val);
static void ConsolePrint(int i)
{
Console.WriteLine(i);
}
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Print prnt = ConsolePrint;
Prnt(10);
}
Output:
10
You can use an Action delegate instead of defining the above Print delegate, for example:
Example: Action delegate
static void ConsolePrint(int i)
{
Console.WriteLine(i);
}
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Action<int> printActionDel = ConsolePrint;
printActionDel(10);
}
You can initialize an Action delegate using the new keyword or by directly assigning a method:
Action<int> printActionDel = ConsolePrint;
//Or
Action<int> printActionDel = new Action<int>(ConsolePrint);
An Action delegate can take up to 16 input parameters of different types.
An Anonymous method can also be assigned to an Action delegate, for example:
Example: Anonymous method with Action delegate
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Action<int> printActionDel = delegate(int i)
{
Console.WriteLine(i);
};
printActionDel(10);
}
Output:
10
A Lambda expression also can be used with an Action delegate:
Example: Lambda expression with Action delegate
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Action<int> printActionDel = i => Console.WriteLine(i);
printActionDel(10);
}
Thus, you can use any method that doesn't return a value with Action delegate types.
Advantages of Action and Func delegates:
- Easy and quick to define delegates.
- Makes code short.
- Compatible type throughout the application.
Points to Remember :
- Action delegate is same as func delegate except that it does not return anything. Return type must be void.
- Action delegate can have 1 to 16 input parameters.
- Action delegate can be used with anonymous methods or lambda expressions.