Delegates

The .NET delegate is similar to function pointers found in other languages, such as C++; in other words, it is like a pointer to a method to be invoked at runtime. In essence, it is a placeholder for a block of code, which can be something as simple as a single statement or a full-blown multiline code block, complete with complex branches of execution, that you ask other code to execute at some point in time. The term delegate hints at some form of representative, which is precisely what this placeholder concept relates to.

Delegates allow for minimum coupling between objects, and much less code. There is no need to create classes that are derived from specific classes or interfaces. By using a delegate, you are defining what a compatible method should look like, whether it is in a class or struct, static, or instance-based. The arguments and return type define this calling compatibility.

Furthermore, delegates can be used in a callback fashion, which allows multiple...