Why events can't be used in the same way in derived classes as in the base class in C#?

Question

In following code, I want to extend the behaviour of a class by deriving/subclassing it, and make use of an event of the base class:

public class A {     public event EventHandler SomeEvent;      public void someMethod()     {         if(SomeEvent != null) SomeEvent(this, someArgs);     } }  public class B : A {     public void someOtherMethod()     {         if(SomeEvent != null) SomeEvent(this, someArgs); // << why is this not possible? //Error: The event 'SomeEvent' can only appear on the left hand side of += or -=  //(except when used from within the type 'A')     } } 

Why isn't it possible?

And what is the common solution for this kind of situation?

Answer 1

Others have explained how to get round the issue, but not why it's coming up.

When you declare a public field-like event, the compiler creates a public event, and a private field. Within the same class (or nested classes) you can get at the field directly, e.g. to invoke all the handlers. From other classes, you only see the event, which only allows subscription and unsubscription.

Answer 2

The standard practice here is to have a protected virtual method OnSomeEvent on your base class, then call that method in derived classes. Also, for threading reasons you will want to keep a reference to the handler before checking null and calling it.

For an explanation of the why read Jon Skeet's answer or the C# specification which describes how the compiler automatically creates a private field.

Here is one possible work around.

public class A {     public event EventHandler SomeEvent;      public void someMethod()     {         OnSomeEvent();     }      protected void OnSomeEvent()     {         EventHandler handler = SomeEvent;         if(handler != null)             handler(this, someArgs);     } }  public class B : A {     public void someOtherMethod()     {         OnSomeEvent();     } } 

Edit: Updated code based upon Framework Design Guidelines section 5.4 and reminders by others.