How to receive UDP packages when using UdpClient class in C#

Question

I am trying to write a graphical C# program that can communicate with my Node.js server.

I am using UdpClient class and I am able to send some messages to the server.

However, I don't know how to receive UDP packages from the server. JavaScript and Windows Form Widgets are event-driven, but UdpClient class in C# doesn't have any convenient events related to data reception.

Also, I don't know where to put the code of package reception. Most of online examples are console program and my program is GUI based.

I want my program to continuously listen at a port and when a package comes in, the program can capture the package and display its content in a TextBox.

Any suggestions ?

are you allowed to use an external library? (in both server and client) — JohnKiller, Apr 12 '15 at 12:41

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 12 '15 at 14:30

You can listen to a port asynchronously using BeginReceive. It works in GUI applications too - just remember to send the data to the UI thread before interacting with the UI.

This example is from a WinForms application. I've put a multiline textbox on the form called txtLog.

private const int MyPort = 1337;
private UdpClient Client;

public Form1() {
    InitializeComponent();

    // Create the UdpClient and start listening.
    Client = new UdpClient(MyPort);
    Client.BeginReceive(DataReceived, null);
}

private void DataReceived(IAsyncResult ar) {
    IPEndPoint ip = new IPEndPoint(IPAddress.Any, MyPort);
    byte[] data;
    try {
        data = Client.EndReceive(ar, ref ip);

        if (data.Length == 0)
            return; // No more to receive
        Client.BeginReceive(DataReceived, null);
    } catch (ObjectDisposedException) {
        return; // Connection closed
    }

    // Send the data to the UI thread
    this.BeginInvoke((Action<IPEndPoint, string>)DataReceivedUI, ip, Encoding.UTF8.GetString(data));
}

private void DataReceivedUI(IPEndPoint endPoint, string data) {
    txtLog.AppendText("[" + endPoint.ToString() + "] " + data + Environment.NewLine);
}

How to receive UDP packages when using UdpClient class in C#

1 Answers1