AsyncLocal<T> Class

Definition

Namespace:

System.Threading

Assembly:

System.Threading.dll

Source:

AsyncLocal.cs

Represents ambient data that is local to a given asynchronous control flow, such as an asynchronous method.

generic <typename T>
public ref class AsyncLocal sealed

public sealed class AsyncLocal<T>

type AsyncLocal<'T> = class

Public NotInheritable Class AsyncLocal(Of T)

Type Parameters

T

The type of the ambient data.

Inheritance

Object

AsyncLocal<T>

Examples

The following example uses the AsyncLocal<T> class to persist a string value across an asynchronous flow. It also contrasts the use of AsyncLocal<T> with ThreadLocal<T>.

using System;
using System.Threading;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

class Example
{
    static AsyncLocal<string> _asyncLocalString = new AsyncLocal<string>();

    static ThreadLocal<string> _threadLocalString = new ThreadLocal<string>();

    static async Task AsyncMethodA()
    {
        // Start multiple async method calls, with different AsyncLocal values.
        // We also set ThreadLocal values, to demonstrate how the two mechanisms differ.
        _asyncLocalString.Value = "Value 1";
        _threadLocalString.Value = "Value 1";
        var t1 = AsyncMethodB("Value 1");

        _asyncLocalString.Value = "Value 2";
        _threadLocalString.Value = "Value 2";
        var t2 = AsyncMethodB("Value 2");

        // Await both calls
        await t1;
        await t2;
     }

    static async Task AsyncMethodB(string expectedValue)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Entering AsyncMethodB.");
        Console.WriteLine("   Expected '{0}', AsyncLocal value is '{1}', ThreadLocal value is '{2}'", 
                          expectedValue, _asyncLocalString.Value, _threadLocalString.Value);
        await Task.Delay(100);
        Console.WriteLine("Exiting AsyncMethodB.");
        Console.WriteLine("   Expected '{0}', got '{1}', ThreadLocal value is '{2}'", 
                          expectedValue, _asyncLocalString.Value, _threadLocalString.Value);
    }

    static async Task Main(string[] args)
    {
        await AsyncMethodA();
    }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//   Entering AsyncMethodB.
//      Expected 'Value 1', AsyncLocal value is 'Value 1', ThreadLocal value is 'Value 1'
//   Entering AsyncMethodB.
//      Expected 'Value 2', AsyncLocal value is 'Value 2', ThreadLocal value is 'Value 2'
//   Exiting AsyncMethodB.
//      Expected 'Value 2', got 'Value 2', ThreadLocal value is ''
//   Exiting AsyncMethodB.
//      Expected 'Value 1', got 'Value 1', ThreadLocal value is ''

Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Threading.Tasks

Module Example
    Dim _asyncLocalString As New AsyncLocal(Of String)()

    Dim _threadLocalString As New ThreadLocal(Of String)()

    Async Function AsyncMethodA() As Task
        ' Start multiple async method calls, with different AsyncLocal values.
        ' We also set ThreadLocal values, to demonstrate how the two mechanisms differ.
        _asyncLocalString.Value = "Value 1"
        _threadLocalString.Value = "Value 1"
        Dim t1 = AsyncMethodB("Value 1")

        _asyncLocalString.Value = "Value 2"
        _threadLocalString.Value = "Value 2"
        Dim t2 = AsyncMethodB("Value 2")

        ' Await both calls
        await t1
        await t2
     End Function

    Async Function AsyncMethodB(expectedValue As String) As Task
        Console.WriteLine("Entering AsyncMethodB.")
        Console.WriteLine("   Expected '{0}', AsyncLocal value is '{1}', ThreadLocal value is '{2}'", 
                          expectedValue, _asyncLocalString.Value, _threadLocalString.Value)
        await Task.Delay(100)
        Console.WriteLine("Exiting AsyncMethodB.")
        Console.WriteLine("   Expected '{0}', got '{1}', ThreadLocal value is '{2}'", 
                          expectedValue, _asyncLocalString.Value, _threadLocalString.Value)
    End Function

   Public Sub Main()
       AsyncMethodA.Wait()
   End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'   Entering AsyncMethodB.
'      Expected 'Value 1', AsyncLocal value is 'Value 1', ThreadLocal value is 'Value 1'
'   Entering AsyncMethodB.
'      Expected 'Value 2', AsyncLocal value is 'Value 2', ThreadLocal value is 'Value 2'
'   Exiting AsyncMethodB.
'      Expected 'Value 2', got 'Value 2', ThreadLocal value is ''
'   Exiting AsyncMethodB.
'      Expected 'Value 1', got 'Value 1', ThreadLocal value is ''

Remarks

Because the task-based asynchronous programming model tends to abstract the use of threads, AsyncLocal<T> instances can be used to persist data across threads.

The AsyncLocal<T> class also provides optional notifications when the value associated with the current thread changes, either because it was explicitly changed by setting the Value property, or implicitly changed when the thread encountered an await or other context transition.

Constructors

AsyncLocal<T>()	Instantiates an AsyncLocal<T> instance that does not receive change notifications.
AsyncLocal<T>(Action<AsyncLocalValueChangedArgs<T>>)	Instantiates an AsyncLocal<T> local instance that receives change notifications.

Properties

Value

Gets or sets the value of the ambient data.

Methods

Equals(Object)	Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object. (Inherited from Object)
GetHashCode()	Serves as the default hash function. (Inherited from Object)
GetType()	Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object)
MemberwiseClone()	Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object)
ToString()	Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object)