#382 – Handling an Event that Returns Some Data

When you implement an event that returns data, you can use the EventHandler<TEventArgs> delegate type.

When you use the EventHandler<TEventArgs> delegate type, you define a new class that inherits from EventArgs.  A client that wants to handle the new event will need access to this new class.

Suppose that a Dog class implements a Barked event that has the following signature:

        public event EventHandler<BarkedEventArgs> Barked;

You would then add an event handler that accepts two parameters:

• Parameter of type object, which references the object that raised the event
• Parameter of type BarkedEventArgs, which contains the data the event wants to pass back

Here’s the complete example:

        static void Main()
        {
            Dog kirby = new Dog("Kirby");
            kirby.Barked += kirby_Barked;

            kirby.Bark("Grrr");
        }

        // Handle the Barked event
        static void kirby_Barked(object o, BarkedEventArgs e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Kirby barked: {0}", e.BarkSound);
        }

#381 – Implementing an Event that Returns Some Data

When you implement an event, you can define your own delegate type, or you can use the existing EventHandler or EventHandler<TEventArgs> types.

If you want your event to return some data, you should:

• Create a new class that inherits from EventArgs for the event’s data
• Use the EventHandler<TEventArgs> delegate type

Start by defining new EventArgs-based class that will store the event’s data.

    public class BarkedEventArgs : EventArgs
    {
        public string BarkSound { get; protected set; }
        public BarkedEventArgs(string barkSound)
        {
            BarkSound = barkSound;
        }
    }

Then, in your class, declare the event and a helper method to raise the event.

        // Declare the event
        public event EventHandler<BarkedEventArgs> Barked;

        // Helper method that raises the event
        protected virtual void OnBarked(string sound)
        {
            if (Barked != null)
                Barked(this, new BarkedEventArgs(sound));
        }

Finally, raise the event whenever a Dog barks.

        public void Bark(string barkSound)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(barkSound);

            OnBarked(barkSound);
        }