`ConcurrentBag`

This is a collection of values. Threads must often access a single collection of values. Sometimes look up functionality is not required.

Type notes

ConcurrentBag allows us to safely Add and Take results. We can use it on a single thread, but it is most useful on multiple threads.

First program

Here we use ConcurrentBag on a single thread. The bag should be used only when multiple threads access it. In the code we show how Add, TryPeek and TryTake work.

Start The Add() method adds an element to the inside of the ConcurrentBag—the argument type matches the bag's type parameter.

Next TryPeek returns, in its out parameter, the value most recently added to the bag. It does not change the bag's contents.

Info TryTake returns, in the out parameter, the most recently added element. It removes the element from the contents.

using System;
using System.Collections.Concurrent;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        ConcurrentBag<int> bag = new ConcurrentBag<int>();
        bag.Add(1);
        bag.Add(2);
        bag.Add(3);

        int result;
        if (bag.TryPeek(out result))
        {
            Console.WriteLine("TryPeek: {0}", result);
        }

        if (bag.TryTake(out result))
        {
            Console.WriteLine("TryTake: {0}", result);
        }

        if (bag.TryPeek(out result))
        {
            Console.WriteLine("TryPeek: {0}", result);
        }
    }
}TryPeek: 3
TryTake: 3
TryPeek: 2

Constructor

It is possible to create a ConcurrentBag from its constructor. No calls to Add() are needed. Many programs, when starting, have known values to use.

Detail This bag uses the string type. And its constructor can be passed a string array. The bag has 3 elements.

using System;
using System.Collections.Concurrent;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // ... Create bag from string array.
        string[] array = { "Dot", "Net", "Perls" };
        ConcurrentBag<string> bag = new ConcurrentBag<string>(array);

        string value;
        if (bag.TryPeek(out value))
        {
            Console.WriteLine("TryPeek: {0}", value);
        }
        Console.WriteLine("Count:   {0}", bag.Count);
    }
}TryPeek: Perls
Count:   3

Internals

The internals of ConcurrentBag are surprisingly complex. This class maintains its internal elements in a private ThreadLocalList.

And Each element is stored in a Node. One detail is that it contains private methods named Steal.

So The ConcurrentBag, when it cannot TryTake something, will attempt to TrySteal it instead. ConcurrentBag always gets what it wants.

Internals, continued

The ConcurrentBag uses the Interlocked class to provide thread-safety, as in the TryTakeOrPeak method. This helps simplify handling fields.

Summary

A ConcurrentBag is simple. This is its main advantage over other collections such as ConcurrentDictionary. For threading, a complex task itself, simplicity is important.