In my app, I'm using a StreamWriter to stream data to a file. Are any bytes actually written to the file before the Close() method is called? If the answer is no, is this true no matter how large the stream is?
Randy
Add a comment
|
3 Answers
The StreamWriter has an internal buffer, and once that buffer is full, it will get flushed to disk. You can force it to flush to disk at any time by calling Flush()
You can specify how big of a buffer you want in the constructors of StreamWriters if you wish.
1 Comment
bavaza
Flush() does not guarantee actual writing to disk - it merely flushes CLR buffers to OS buffers. See this question.
Stream is written by StreamWriter.Flush.
2 Comments
Adam Robinson
I won't downvote, but this isn't entirely correct. Yes,
Flush will do just that, but that certainly isn't the only time that the stream is written before close. See Matt Greer's answer.
GrayWizardx
Thats how you can force it to write, but it can also be written by setting AutoFlush() as well as if the internal buffer fills before the flush can be issued.
It depends on the underlying stream that is being used, the size of the buffer in that stream and other factors.
You can force a write to the underlying stream by calling flush() on your StreamWriter.
I assume from your question that you are using a file stream underneath. In my experience the flush generally occurs between every 1-4K of data, but I am not sure what the exact point is.
