Do c# lambdas exist only at compile time?

Question

Am I right in saying that lambda expressions exist only at compile time, and once compiled they become either an Expression (LambdaExpression?) or a delegate?

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8993426/what-are-c-sharp-lambdas-compiled-into-a-stackframe-an-instance-of-an-anonymo — Christian Phillips, Aug 05 '13 at 12:19

score 16 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 05 '13 at 16:14

16

Yes. In addition to a delegate, lambdas become a generated method. The delegate refers to that method. If they close over variables, the method becomes an instance method on a generated class holding the closure state.

In that sense you can use a lambda and local variables to create a class with fields and one method, similar to JavaScript.

edited Aug 05 '13 at 16:14

Mike Christensen

82,887
49
201
310

answered Aug 05 '13 at 12:18

usr

165,323
34
234
359

Do c# lambdas exist only at compile time?

1 Answers1