Why would I use a delegate If I can just fire up the event by itself?

I really don't get delegates at all.

1) I declare an event in an object
2) I declare an object with the with events
3) I create a method/procedure/function with the handles object.event

Now where does a delegate come in handy here? Im really struggling with this. Don't tell me a delegate is a pointer to a function....heh heh.

Thanks

A delegate is a pointer to a function.

As such, events are implemented internally using delegates, but that isn't the only thing they are used for, although that by far is the most visible and common use. Callback procedures (both synchronous and asynchronous) are another use. Other, perhaps more esoteric uses allow for a certain kind of polymorphism - different procedures can be called depending on run-time conditions using a delegate. Admittedly, this could be done any number of ways (e.g. IF/ELSE or SELECT CASE constructs), but a delegate is generally more efficient and certainly more .

Note that the handles clause on a procedure in fact sets up a delegate behind the scenes for you - that's why you can use any name you choose for the event procedure - it's actually the delegate that establishes the link between your procedure and the event, unlike VB6 which required you to name an event procedure a certain way.

Note also that one procedure can handle multiple events from multiple sources, again all handled via the behind-the-scenes delegate.

Jeff Mason
Custom Apps, Inc.
www.custom-apps.com

I think my confusion has been spawned by examples that use events and delegates at the same time. But I think I get what you are saying. Basically I could be done with events and use delegates exclusively to achieve the same functionality. Call a particular sub/function which is basically the same as a sub/function tied to an handles. So then, why do people use combinations of both. For example, right now I am studying this remoting example where the author declares a delegate with a signature and then creates two events as the delegate and basically uses the "handles obj.event" instead of using the addressOF functionality of the delegate. This is what's been confusing me.

Anyways enough rant! Thanks!