Dispose() and finalize() are two important methods used for releasing resources in C#. These methods are used for cleaning up resources like database connections and files if they are no longer required. but there are some significant differences between the dispose
and finalize
methods in C#.
In C#, Dispose() and Finalize() are methods that are used to release unmanaged resources held by an object. The Dispose() method is defined in the IDisposable interface, whereas the Finalize() method is defined in the Object class. The Dispose() method can be called explicitly by the user, whereas Finalize() method is automatically called by the GC (garbage collector) before an object is destroyed.

In this article, we will explore the differences between Dispose and Finalize and learn when to use them.
Table of Contents
What is Dispose() method?
Dispose is a method that is called explicitly by the developer to release the resources that are no longer required. It is implemented in the IDisposable interface, which is then implemented by the types that hold onto unmanaged resources. The dispose method is used to release resources such as database connections, file handles, and memory.
What is Finalize() method?
Finalize is a method that is called internally by the garbage collector when an object is being collected. It is used to release unmanaged resources that are held by an object. The finalize method is called automatically by the garbage collector and we are not allowed to call this method directly.
Differences between Dispose and Finalize in C#
Here, We have a chart comparing some additional differences between Dispose and Finalize in C#.
Dispose() | Finalize() |
---|---|
Dispose is called explicitly by the developer. | Finalize is called automatically by the garbage collector |
We can use Dispose method to release both managed and unmanaged resources. | Finalize can only release unmanaged resources. |
Dispose is faster than finalize because it can be called Quickly and explicitly by the user and does not have to wait for the garbage collector to run. | Finalize is slower than dispose this because it is called by the garbage collector and may take some time to run. |
Dispose method belongs to the IDisposable interface. | While Finalize() belongs to the Object class. |
We can call Dispose method multiple times without any issues. | Finalize should only be called once. |
Example: Implementing Dispose() method
Following is a sample code example of how to use the dispose method in C#:
class MyClass : IDisposable
{
// Some unmanaged resource
private IntPtr handle;
public void Dispose()
{
// Release the unmanaged resource
ReleaseHandle(handle);
// Mark the object as disposed
handle = IntPtr.Zero;
GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
}
// Protected implementation of Dispose pattern.
protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
if (disposing)
{
// Free any other managed objects here.
//
}
// Release the unmanaged resource
ReleaseHandle(handle);
// Mark the object as disposed
handle = IntPtr.Zero;
}
// Use C# destructor syntax for finalization code.
~MyClass()
{
// Simply call Dispose(false).
Dispose(false);
}
private void ReleaseHandle(IntPtr handle)
{
// Perform any necessary cleanup for the unmanaged resource here
// ...
// Release the handle
handle = IntPtr.Zero;
}
}
Code Explanation:
We have defined a class MyClass that implements the IDisposable interface in the code mentioned above, which allows the object to be disposed when it is no longer required. This class contains an unmanaged resource, represented by an IntPtr handle.
The Dispose() method releases the unmanaged resource by calling the ReleaseHandle() method and then sets the handle to IntPtr.Zero
to mark the object as disposed. The GC.SuppressFinalize()
method is then called to prevent the object’s finalizer from being called again.
The Dispose(bool) method is a protected implementation of the Dispose pattern that is called by the Dispose() method to perform the actual resource cleanup. The method first checks the value of the disposing parameter, which indicates whether the method is being called from the Dispose() method (ex: disposing is true) or from the object’s finalizer (Ex: disposing is false).
If disposing is true, the method frees any managed objects that have been created. It then releases the unmanaged resource by calling the ReleaseHandle()
method and sets the handle to IntPtr.Zero
.
Disposing objects by Using
block
The using statement is used to automatically call the Dispose method on the object when it goes out of scope.
using (var myObject = new MyClass())
{
// Use the object here
}
The using block is used to dispose an object when you are finished with it. Here, Disposing of an object means releasing any resources that the object is holding. The using
statement is important for objects that hold onto resources that are not automatically released by the garbage collector, such as file handles or database connections.
Example:
Here is another example of how to use the using block in C#:
using (FileStream fs = new FileStream("testFile.txt", FileMode.Open))
{
// Use the object here.
}
In the above example, We have created a FileStream object and opened it for reading. When the using block is exited, the FileStream object is automatically disposed, which releases the file handle that it was holding onto. This is equivalent to calling the Dispose method on the object manually, like this:
FileStream fileStream = new FileStream("testFile.txt", FileMode.Open);
try
{
// Use the object here.
}
finally
{ // Disposing object
fileStream.Dispose();
}
Using Finalize method in C#
You need to define a destructor in the class in order to use finalize() method. The destructor will be called by the garbage collector when the object is being collected. Here, In the example below, the destructor calls the ReleaseHandle method to release the unmanaged resource and then sets the handle to null to mark the object as disposed.
You do not need to worry about calling the Finalize method yourself because you are aware that it cannot be called directly. The garbage collector will automatically make a call to it. However, you should be aware that finalize is slower than dispose because it is called by the garbage collector, and it should only be used as a last resort when an object holds onto unmanaged resources and does not implement the IDisposable interface.
class MyClass
{
// Define some unmanaged resource
private IntPtr handle;
// Using C# destructor syntax for finalization code.
~MyClass()
{
// Release the unmanaged resource
ReleaseHandle(handle);
// Mark the object as disposed
handle = IntPtr.Zero;
}
}
Dispose method rules in C#
The following are a few rules that you should follow when using the dispose() method in C#:
- Implement the IDisposable interface: You need to implement the IDisposable interface to use the dispose method and provide a Dispose method implementation in your class.
- Release unmanaged resources: The Dispose method should release any unmanaged resources that are held by the object, such as file handles, database connections, memory, etc.
- Avoid unnecessary garbage collection: After calling the Dispose method, you should call the
GC.SuppressFinalize
method to prevent the Finalize method from being called and avoid unnecessary garbage collection. This is because the Finalize method is not needed if the Dispose method has already released the resources held by the object. - Call Dispose on base class: If your class inherits from a class that implements IDisposable, you should call the Dispose method on the base class in your implementation of Dispose method.
- Mark the object as disposed: After releasing the resources, you should set any relevant object fields to null or a default value to mark the object as disposed.
- Handle multiple calls to Dispose: Your implementation of Dispose method should be able to handle being called multiple times without causing any issues. You make sure that the Subsequent calls to Dispose after the first one can simply return immediately.
- Use the using statement: To ensure that the Dispose method is called automatically, you should use the using statement when working with objects that implement IDisposable. This will ensure that the Dispose method is called when the object goes out of scope.
Finalize method rules in C#
The following are a few rules that you should follow when using the finalize() method in C#:
- Provide a destructor: You need to provide a destructor for your class in order to use the finalize method. The destructor will be called by the garbage collector when the object is being collected.
- Do not call finalize directly: The finalize method should not be called directly because it will be called automatically by the garbage collector.
- Avoid using finalize: You should avoid using finalize whenever possible because it is slower than the dispose method and should only be used as a last resort when an object holds onto unmanaged resources and does not implement the IDisposable interface.
- Do not throw exceptions in finalize: You should not throw exceptions from the finalize method because the garbage collector does not catch exceptions that are thrown from finalize. If an exception is thrown, it might terminate the process.
FAQ
Here are some common questions and answers about dispose
and finalize
in C#:
Q: What is the difference between dispose and finalize in C#?
Dispose is a method that is called to explicitly by the user to release resources that are no longer needed. It is implemented in the IDisposable interface, which is then implemented by the types that hold onto unmanaged resources. Dispose can release both managed and unmanaged resources and is faster than finalize method.
Finalize is a method of the Objet class that is called automatically by the garbage collector when an object is being collected. It is used to release unmanaged resources that are held by an object. Finalize can only release unmanaged resources and is slower than dispose because it is called by the garbage collector not by the user.
Q: When should you use the dispose method?
Dispose method should be used whenever you have an object that holds an unmanaged resources and implements the IDisposable interface. You should call the Dispose method on the object when you are finished with it to release its resources like database connections or files.
Q: When should you use the finalize?
The Finalize() is a method of the Object class that is responsible for performing cleanup tasks before an object is destroyed. It is called automatically by the GC (garbage collector) before removing an object from the memory. It is basically used to release unmanaged resources held by an object.
Q: Is it safe to call dispose multiple times?
Yes, you can call dispose multiple times without any issue. Your implementations of IDisposable.Dispose()
method should tolerate being called multiple times. All subsequent calls to Dispose() can simply return right away after the first call.
Q: Is dispose method is faster than finalize?
Yes, dispose method is faster than finalize because it can be called explicitly and does not have to wait for the garbage collector to run. Finalize is slower because it is called by the garbage collector and may not run for some time.
Reference: MSDN-Finalize method, Implement a Dispose method
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Great post! I found it to be an extremely informative and well written post about the Dispose and Finalize method. Keep up the good work.