C# System.Delegate.Combine

Question

I have a bit of confusion regarding static Combine( ) provided in System.Delegate( )

This method returns a System.Delegate type and its purpose is to combine invocation lists of multiple delegates.

But if a delegate is supposed to refer to a single method, and a multicast delegate is supposed to hold reference to multiple methods, then how is the return type of Combine justified as just a System.Delegate?

I think I am missing something here.

Can someone please help.

Thanks.

Dupe: [why-delegate-types-are-derived-from-multicastdelegate-class-why-not-it-directly](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4833053/why-delegate-types-are-derived-from-multicastdelegate-class-why-not-it-directly) — nawfal, Jul 07 '14 at 18:59

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 05 '11 at 18:18

1

All delegates have the capability of being multicast. Consider Delegate.GetInvocationList.

answered Jul 05 '11 at 18:18

Ben Voigt

277,958
43
419
720

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 05 '11 at 18:16

0

This is a bit of a shot in the dark, but Multicast Delegates inherit from Delegates... so while it returns an object that is of the Type Delegate, you may be able to cast it to a multicast delegate....

answered Jul 05 '11 at 18:16

therealmitchconnors

2,732
1
18
36

Ani · Answer 3 · 2011-07-05T19:51:55.160

-1

System.Delegate is abstract, so there is never an instance of System.Delegate returned, just instances of concrete types () derived from System.MulticastDelegate. To my knowledge there is no type that is a Delegate that can only hold a reference to one method.

Hope this helps.

edited Jul 05 '11 at 19:51

answered Jul 05 '11 at 18:18

Ani

10,826
3
27
46

1

System.MulticastDelegate is also declared abstract on msdn – Jake Jul 05 '11 at 18:19
My mistake, I meant to say "just concrete types derived from System.MulticastDelegate". Thanks! – Ani Jul 05 '11 at 19:50

C# System.Delegate.Combine

3 Answers3