In this quickstart, you'll learn how the async mechanism in C# 5.0 makes it easier to write asynchronous code. In addition to a clear introduction to asynchronous programming in general, you'll find an in-depth description of how this particular mechanism works and the answer to when and why to use it in your own applications. The book covers the following topics: • How to write asynchronous code by hand and how the async mechanism hides the ugly details. • New ways to improve server-side code performance in ASP.NET applications. • How async and WinRT work together in Windows 8 applications. • The meaning of the await keyword in async methods. • Which .NET thread executes asynchronous code at each point in the program. • Writing asynchronous APIs , consistent with the Task-basedAsynchronous Pattern (TAP).• Parallelizing programs to harness the capabilities of modern computers.• Measuring the performance of async code and comparing with alternative approaches. The book is designed for experienced C# programmers, but will be understandable for beginners. It is replete with code examples that you can use in your own programs. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright holders. The material contained in this book has been extensively reviewed. But, since the possibility of technical errors still exists, the publishing house cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy and correctness of the information provided. In connection with these, the publisher is not responsible for possible errors associated with the use of the book.