Editing Comparison of C Sharp and Java (section)

=== Delegates, method references ===
C# implements object-oriented method pointers in the form of [[Delegate (CLI)|delegates]]. A delegate is a special type that can capture a reference to a method. This reference can then be stored in a delegate-type variable or passed to a method through a delegate parameter for later invocation. C# delegates support [[Covariance and contravariance (computer science)|covariance and contravariance]], and can hold a reference to any signature-compatible static method, instance method, anonymous method or [[Anonymous function|lambda expression]].

Delegates should not be confused with closures and inline functions. The concepts are related because a reference to a closure/inline function must be captured in a delegate reference to be useful at all. But a delegate does not always reference an inline function; it can also reference existing static or instance methods. Delegates form the basis of C# [[#Event|events]], but should not be confused with those either.

Delegates were deliberately left out of Java because they were considered unnecessary and detrimental to the language, and because of potential performance issues.<ref name="JavaDelegates">{{cite web|url=http://java.sun.com/docs/white/delegates.html |title=Oracle Technology Network for Java Developers &#124; Oracle Technology Network &#124; Oracle |publisher=Java.sun.com |access-date=24 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627043929/http://java.sun.com/docs/white/delegates.html |archive-date=27 June 2012 }}</ref> Instead, alternative mechanisms are used. The [[wrapper pattern]], which resembles the delegates of C# in that it allows the client to access one or more client-defined methods through a known [[Interface (object-oriented programming)|interface]], is one such mechanism.{{citation needed |date=March 2012}} Another is the use of [[Adapter pattern|adapter]] objects using inner classes, which the designers of Java argued are a better solution than bound method references.<ref name="JavaDelegates"/>

See also example [[#C# delegates and equivalent Java constructs|C# delegates and equivalent Java constructs]].