System.Threading Namespace

Provides classes and interfaces that enable multithreaded programming. In addition to classes for synchronizing thread activities and access to data (Mutex, Monitor, Interlocked, AutoResetEvent, and so on), this namespace includes a ThreadPool class that allows you to use a pool of system-supplied threads, and a Timer class that executes callback methods on thread pool threads.

Classes

AbandonedMutexException

The exception that is thrown when one thread acquires a Mutex object that another thread has abandoned by exiting without releasing it.

AsyncLocal<T>

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

AutoResetEvent

Represents a thread synchronization event that, when signaled, releases one single waiting thread, and the event resets automatically. If no thread is waiting, the next thread that is set to the waiting state is immediately released, and the event resets automatically. This class cannot be inherited.

Barrier

Enables multiple tasks to cooperatively work on an algorithm in parallel through multiple phases.

BarrierPostPhaseException

The exception that is thrown when the post-phase action of a Barrier fails.

CancellationTokenSource

Signals to a CancellationToken that it should be canceled.

CompressedStack

Provides methods for setting and capturing the compressed stack on the current thread. This class cannot be inherited.

CountdownEvent

Represents a synchronization primitive that is signaled when its count reaches zero.

EventWaitHandle

Represents a thread synchronization event.

EventWaitHandleAcl

Provides a Windows-specific extension method for creating EventWaitHandle objects with specific access control list (ACL) security.

ExecutionContext

Manages the execution context for the current thread. This class cannot be inherited.

HostExecutionContext

Encapsulates and propagates the host execution context across threads.

HostExecutionContextManager

Provides the functionality that allows a common language runtime host to participate in the flow, or migration, of the execution context.

Interlocked

Provides atomic operations for variables that are shared by multiple threads.

LazyInitializer

Provides lazy initialization routines.

Lock
LockRecursionException

The exception that is thrown when recursive entry into a lock is not compatible with the recursion policy for the lock.

ManualResetEvent

Represents a thread synchronization event that, when signaled, must be reset manually. This class cannot be inherited.

ManualResetEventSlim

Represents a thread synchronization event that, when signaled, must be reset manually. This class is a lightweight alternative to ManualResetEvent.

Monitor

Provides a mechanism that synchronizes access to objects.

Mutex

A synchronization primitive that can also be used for interprocess synchronization.

MutexAcl

Provides a Windows-specific extension method for creating Mutex objects with specific access control list (ACL) security.

Overlapped

Provides a managed representation of a Win32 OVERLAPPED structure, including methods to transfer information from an Overlapped instance to a NativeOverlapped structure.

PeriodicTimer

Provides a periodic timer that enables waiting asynchronously for timer ticks.

PreAllocatedOverlapped

Represents pre-allocated state for native overlapped I/O operations.

ReaderWriterLock

Defines a lock that supports single writers and multiple readers.

ReaderWriterLockSlim

Represents a lock that is used to manage access to a resource, allowing multiple threads for reading or exclusive access for writing.

RegisteredWaitHandle

Represents a handle that has been registered when calling RegisterWaitForSingleObject(WaitHandle, WaitOrTimerCallback, Object, UInt32, Boolean). This class cannot be inherited.

Semaphore

Limits the number of threads that can access a resource or pool of resources concurrently.

SemaphoreAcl

Provides a Windows-specific extension method for creating Semaphore objects with specific access control list (ACL) security.

SemaphoreFullException

The exception that is thrown when the Release method is called on a semaphore whose count is already at the maximum.

SemaphoreSlim

Represents a lightweight alternative to Semaphore that limits the number of threads that can access a resource or pool of resources concurrently.

SynchronizationContext

Provides the basic functionality for propagating a synchronization context in various synchronization models.

SynchronizationLockException

The exception that is thrown when a method requires the caller to own the lock on a given Monitor, and the method is invoked by a caller that does not own that lock.

Thread

Creates and controls a thread, sets its priority, and gets its status.

ThreadAbortException

The exception that is thrown when a call is made to the Abort(Object) method. This class cannot be inherited.

ThreadExceptionEventArgs

Provides data for the ThreadException event.

ThreadingAclExtensions

Provides Windows-specific extension methods for managing the access control list (ACL) security descriptors for EventWaitHandle, Mutex, and Semaphore.

ThreadInterruptedException

The exception that is thrown when a Thread is interrupted while it is in a waiting state.

ThreadLocal<T>

Provides thread-local storage of data.

ThreadPool

Provides a pool of threads that can be used to execute tasks, post work items, process asynchronous I/O, wait on behalf of other threads, and process timers.

ThreadPoolBoundHandle

Represents an I/O handle that is bound to the system thread pool and enables low-level components to receive notifications for asynchronous I/O operations.

ThreadStartException

The exception that is thrown when a failure occurs in a managed thread after the underlying operating system thread has been started, but before the thread is ready to execute user code.

ThreadStateException

The exception that is thrown when a Thread is in an invalid ThreadState for the method call.

Timeout

Contains constants that specify infinite time-out intervals. This class cannot be inherited.

Timer

Provides a mechanism for executing a method on a thread pool thread at specified intervals. This class cannot be inherited.

Volatile

Contains methods for performing volatile memory operations.

WaitHandle

Encapsulates operating system-specific objects that wait for exclusive access to shared resources.

WaitHandleCannotBeOpenedException

The exception that is thrown when an attempt is made to open a system mutex, semaphore, or event wait handle that does not exist.

WaitHandleExtensions

Provides convenience methods to for working with a safe handle for a wait handle.

Structs

AsyncFlowControl

Provides the functionality to restore the migration, or flow, of the execution context between threads.

AsyncLocalValueChangedArgs<T>

The class that provides data change information to AsyncLocal<T> instances that register for change notifications.

CancellationToken

Propagates notification that operations should be canceled.

CancellationTokenRegistration

Represents a callback delegate that has been registered with a CancellationToken.

Lock.Scope
LockCookie

Defines the lock that implements single-writer/multiple-reader semantics. This is a value type.

NativeOverlapped

Provides an explicit layout that is visible from unmanaged code and that will have the same layout as the Win32 OVERLAPPED structure with additional reserved fields at the end.

SpinLock

Provides a mutual exclusion lock primitive where a thread trying to acquire the lock waits in a loop repeatedly checking until the lock becomes available.

SpinWait

Provides support for spin-based waiting.

Interfaces

IThreadPoolWorkItem

Represents a work item that can be executed by the ThreadPool.

ITimer

Represents a timer that can have its due time and period changed.

Enums

ApartmentState

Specifies the apartment state of a Thread.

EventResetMode

Indicates whether an EventWaitHandle is reset automatically or manually after receiving a signal.

LazyThreadSafetyMode

Specifies how a Lazy<T> instance synchronizes access among multiple threads.

LockRecursionPolicy

Specifies whether a lock can be entered multiple times by the same thread.

ThreadPriority

Specifies the scheduling priority of a Thread.

ThreadState

Specifies the execution states of a Thread.

Delegates

ContextCallback

Represents a method to be called within a new context.

IOCompletionCallback

Receives the error code, number of bytes, and overlapped value type when an I/O operation completes on the thread pool.

ParameterizedThreadStart

Represents the method that executes on a Thread.

SendOrPostCallback

Represents a method to be called when a message is to be dispatched to a synchronization context.

ThreadExceptionEventHandler

Represents the method that will handle the ThreadException event of an Application.

ThreadStart

Represents the method that executes on a Thread.

TimerCallback

Represents the method that handles calls from a Timer.

WaitCallback

Represents a callback method to be executed by a thread pool thread.

WaitOrTimerCallback

Represents a method to be called when a WaitHandle is signaled or times out.