Lambda Notation vs. Delegate Keyword: Can They Be Used Interchangeably?

Delegate Keyword vs. Lambda Notation: Are They Interchangeable?

Modern programming languages often provide multiple ways to express the same computation. In C#, lambda notation and the delegate keyword are two popular options. This discussion explores their equivalence and nuances.

lambda notation:

<code class="csharp">() => { x = 0; }</code>

delegate keyword:

<code class="csharp">delegate { x = 0; }</code>

Are They Truly Equivalent?

In terms of the resulting behavior, the answer is a resounding no. Both notations result in an anonymous delegate that assigns 0 to a variable x.

Subtle Differences (Irrelevant to Your Question):

However, it's important to note that if you assign a lambda to a delegate type (e.g., Func or Action), you obtain an anonymous delegate. In contrast, if you assign it to an Expression type, you get an expression tree instead, which can be compiled into an anonymous delegate. Expression trees don't execute directly like anonymous delegates do.

Additional Resources on Expressions:

• System.Linq.Expression.Expression(TDelegate)
• Link to In-Memory LINQ Using Delegates
• ScottGu Explains the Difference Between In-Memory LINQ and Entity Framework

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