5/10/24, 4:15 PM C# Threading: From Basic to Advanced | by Laks Tutor | Medium

C# Threading: From Basic to Advanced

Laks Tutor · Follow
2 min read · Aug 30, 2023

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Threading is a fundamental concept in computer science that allows multiple

operations to run concurrently, making the most of available resources and
improving application performance. In C#, the System.Threading namespace
provides a rich set of classes to manage and control threads. In this blog post, we'll
explore threading in C# from basic to advanced concepts, with examples.

1. Basics of Threading

What is a Thread?
A thread is the smallest unit of execution within a process. Each thread has its own
stack and local variables. In C#, the main thread is the one that executes the Main

method. However, you can create additional threads to run tasks in parallel.

Creating a Thread
To create a thread in C#, you can use the Thread class from the System.Threading

namespace.

using System;
using System.Threading;

class Program
{
static void Main()
{
Thread newThread = new Thread(new ThreadStart(PrintNumbers));
newThread.Start();
}

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static void PrintNumbers()

{
for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++)
{
Console.WriteLine(i);
}
}
}

In the above example, we created a new thread that runs the PrintNumbers method.

2. Thread Lifecycle
A thread goes through various states in its lifecycle:

Unstarted: The thread is created but not started.

Running: The thread is currently executing.

WaitSleepJoin: The thread is blocked, waiting for some condition.

Stopped: The thread has completed execution or has been aborted.

You can check the state of a thread using the ThreadState property.

3. Thread Synchronization
When multiple threads access shared resources, there's a potential for race
conditions. To prevent this, you can use synchronization techniques.

Lock
The lock keyword ensures that one thread does not enter a critical section while
another thread is in the critical section.

private static object _lock = new object();

static void SafePrint(string message)

{
lock (_lock)
{
Console.WriteLine(message);
}
}

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5/10/24, 4:15 PM C# Threading: From Basic to Advanced | by Laks Tutor | Medium

Mutex
A mutex is similar to a lock but can work across multiple processes.

using (Mutex mutex = new Mutex(false, "MyMutexName"))

{
mutex.WaitOne();
// Critical section
mutex.ReleaseMutex();
}

4. Advanced Threading Concepts

Thread Pooling
Instead of creating and destroying threads, which can be resource-intensive, you
can use a thread pool. The ThreadPool class allows you to queue tasks without
managing individual threads.

ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem((state) => {
Console.WriteLine("This is running in a thread pool thread.");
});

Tasks
Tasks represent an asynchronous operation. They are built on top of the thread pool
and provide a higher-level way to work with concurrency.

using System.Threading.Tasks;

Task.Run(() => {
Console.WriteLine("This is running in a task.");
});

Parallel Loops
The Parallel class provides a way to parallelize loops, making them run faster on
multi-core systems.

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5/10/24, 4:15 PM C# Threading: From Basic to Advanced | by Laks Tutor | Medium

Parallel.For(0, 10, i => {

Console.WriteLine($"Parallel loop iteration: {i}");
});

Conclusion
Threading in C# offers a powerful way to improve application performance by
leveraging concurrency. Whether you're just starting out or looking to dive deep into
advanced concepts, the System.Threading namespace provides all the tools you
need. Remember to always be cautious when working with threads, as improper
synchronization can lead to unpredictable results. Happy coding!

Threading Csharp Programming

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Written by Laks Tutor

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Software Architect & .NET expert. Specializing in Docker & Kubernetes. Freelance corporate trainer. Shaping
tech & sharing insights on Medium.

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