Monitor.Wait Method (Object, TimeSpan)

Syntax

'Declaration
Public Shared Function Wait ( _
    obj As Object, _
    timeout As TimeSpan _
) As Boolean

public static bool Wait(
    Object obj,
    TimeSpan timeout
)

Exceptions

Remarks

This method does not return until it reacquires an exclusive lock on the obj parameter.

The thread that currently owns the lock on the specified object invokes this method in order to release the object so that another thread can access it. The caller is blocked while waiting to reacquire the lock. This method is called when the caller needs to wait for a state change that will occur as a result of another thread's operations.

The time-out ensures that the current thread does not block indefinitely if another thread releases the lock without first calling the Pulse or PulseAll method. It also moves the thread to the ready queue, bypassing other threads ahead of it in the wait queue, so that it can reacquire the lock sooner. The thread can test the return value of the Wait method to determine whether it reacquired the lock prior to the time-out. The thread can evaluate the conditions that caused it to enter the wait, and if necessary call the Wait method again.

When a thread calls Wait, it releases the lock on the object and enters the object's waiting queue. The next thread in the object's ready queue (if there is one) acquires the lock and has exclusive use of the object. The thread that invoked Wait remains in the waiting queue until either a thread that holds the lock invokes PulseAll, or it is the next in the queue and a thread that holds the lock invokes Pulse. However, if timeout elapses before another thread invokes this object's Pulse or PulseAll method, the original thread is moved to the ready queue in order to regain the lock.

Note:
If a TimeSpan representing –1 millisecond is specified for the timeout parameter, this method blocks indefinitely unless the holder of the lock calls Pulse or PulseAll. If timeout is 0 milliseconds, the thread that calls Wait releases the lock and then immediately enters the ready queue in order to regain the lock.

The caller executes Wait once, regardless of the number of times Enter has been invoked for the specified object. Conceptually, the Wait method stores the number of times the caller invoked Enter on the object and invokes Exit as many times as necessary to fully release the locked object. The caller then blocks while waiting to reacquire the object. When the caller reacquires the lock, the system calls Enter as many times as necessary to restore the saved Enter count for the caller. Calling Wait releases the lock for the specified object only; if the caller is the owner of locks on other objects, these locks are not released.

Note:
A synchronized object holds several references, including a reference to the thread that currently holds the lock, a reference to the ready queue, which contains the threads that are ready to obtain the lock, and a reference to the waiting queue, which contains the threads that are waiting for notification of a change in the object's state.

The Pulse, PulseAll, and Wait methods must be invoked from within a synchronized block of code.

The remarks for the Pulse method explain what happens if Pulse is called when no threads are waiting.

Version Notes

Version Information

Silverlight

Supported in: 5, 4, 3

Silverlight for Windows Phone

Supported in: Windows Phone OS 7.1, Windows Phone OS 7.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: Xbox 360, Windows Phone OS 7.0

Platforms

For a list of the operating systems and browsers that are supported by Silverlight, see Supported Operating Systems and Browsers.

See Also

Reference

Other Resources