SyncLock Statement

SyncLock Statement

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Syntax

     SyncLock lockObject        [code]     End SyncLock 

lockObject (required; any)

The variable or instance to be locked; it is used as a gatekeeper for the enclosed code

code (optional)

Any Visual Basic source code that needs to be protected from simultaneous use by separate threads

Description

The SyncLock statement prevents multiple threads of execution in the same process from accessing a block of code at the same time.

Usage at a Glance

• lockObject cannot be set to Nothing.

• If lockObject is a shared object, all instances with access to that object are blocked until the SyncLock block exits. If it is an instance object, only threads using that particular instance are blocked.

• You may not jump into a SyncLock block using a GoTo statement. You may jump out of the block; the lock will be properly released.

• The SyncLock statement wraps a call to the .NET Framework's System.Threading.Monitor class's Enter and Exit methods.

• .NET includes a number of other synchronization mechanisms, all of which are located in the System.Threading namespace.

Version Differences

The SyncLock statement is new to VB under .NET.