What is the difference between a Task and a Thread in C#?

What is the difference between a Task and a Thread in C#?

In C#, a Thread is a lower-level construct that represents a single path of execution, while a Task is a higher-level abstraction that represents an asynchronous operation. Tasks are built on top of threads and provide a more convenient way to handle asynchronous programming.

Can you explain when to use a Task instead of a Thread?

You should use a Task when you want to perform asynchronous operations without managing the thread lifecycle. Tasks are easier to work with, especially for I/O-bound operations, and they integrate well with async/await patterns.

Are there any performance differences between using Tasks and Threads?

Yes, generally, Tasks are more efficient for managing multiple operations because they use a thread pool, which reduces the overhead of creating and destroying threads. However, for CPU-bound operations, using Threads might be more appropriate in some cases.

What about error handling in Tasks versus Threads?

Tasks provide built-in support for error handling through exceptions, which can be caught when the Task is awaited. Threads require more manual handling, as exceptions thrown in a thread do not propagate to the main thread.