C# Language Specification

Delegate instantiation

An instance of a delegate is created by a delegate-creation-expression (§7.6.10.5) or a conversion to a delegate type. The newly created delegate instance then refers to either:

• 
  The static method referenced in the delegate-creation-expression, or
  
• 
  The target object (which cannot be null) and instance method referenced in the delegate-creation-expression, or
  
• 
  Another delegate.
  

For example:

delegate void D(int x);

class C
{
public static void M1(int i) {...}
public void M2(int i) {...}
}

class Test

{
static void Main() {
D cd1 = new D(C.M1); // static method
C t = new C();
D cd2 = new D(t.M2); // instance method
D cd3 = new D(cd2); // another delegate
}
}

Once instantiated, delegate instances always refer to the same target object and method. Remember, when two delegates are combined, or one is removed from another, a new delegate results with its own invocation list; the invocation lists of the delegates combined or removed remain unchanged.

4.