C# version of java's synchronized keyword?

Question

Does c# have its own version of the java "synchronized" keyword?

I.e. in java it can be specified either to a function, an object or a block of code, like so:

public synchronized void doImportantStuff() {
   // dangerous code goes here.
}

or

public void doImportantStuff() {
   // trivial stuff

   synchronized {
      // dangerous code goes here.
   }
}

Answer 1

Does c# have its own version of the java "synchronized" keyword?

No. In C#, you explicitly lock resources that you want to work on synchronously across asynchronous threads. lock opens a block; it doesn't work on method level.

However, the underlying mechanism is similar since lock works by invoking Monitor.Enter (and subsequently Monitor.Exit) on the runtime. Java works the same way, according to the Sun documentation.

Answer 2

static object Lock = new object();

lock (Lock) 
{
// do stuff
}

Answer 3

You can use the lock statement instead. I think this can only replace the second version. Also, remember that both synchronized and lock need to operate on an object.

Answer 4

First - most classes will never need to be thread-safe. Use YAGNI: only apply thread-safety when you know you actually are going to use it (and test it).

For the method-level stuff, there is [MethodImpl]:

[MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.Synchronized)]
public void SomeMethod() {/* code */}

This can also be used on accessors (properties and events):

private int i;
public int SomeProperty
{
    [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.Synchronized)]
    get { return i; }
    [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.Synchronized)]
    set { i = value; }
}

Note that field-like events are synchronized by default, while auto-implemented properties are not:

public int SomeProperty {get;set;} // not synchronized
public event EventHandler SomeEvent; // synchronized

Personally, I don't like the implementation of MethodImpl (or field-like events) as it locks this or typeof(Foo) - which is against best practice. The preferred option is to use your own locks:

private readonly object syncLock = new object();
public void SomeMethod() {
    lock(syncLock) { /* code */ }
}

This allows more granular usage, and allows use of Monitor.Wait/Monitor.Pulse etc to communicate between threads.

A related blog entry.