The Compile method produces a delegate of type TDelegate at runtime. When that delegate is executed, it has the behavior described by the semantics of the Expression<(Of <(TDelegate>)>).

The Compile method can be used to obtain the value of any expression tree. First, create a lambda expression that has the expression as its body by using the Lambda method. Then call Compile to obtain a delegate, and execute the delegate to obtain the value of the expression.

The following code example demonstrates how Compile is used to execute an expression tree.

' Lambda expression as data in the form of an expression tree.
Dim expression As System.Linq.Expressions.Expression(Of Func(Of Integer, Boolean)) = Function(ByVal i) i < 5
' Compile the expression tree into executable code.
Dim deleg As Func(Of Integer, Boolean) = expression.Compile()
' Invoke the method and print the output.
MsgBox(String.Format("deleg(4) = {0}", deleg(4)))

' This code produces the following output:
'
' deleg(4) = True

// Lambda expression as data in the form of an expression tree.
System.Linq.Expressions.Expression<Func<int, bool>> expr = i => i < 5;
// Compile the expression tree into executable code.
Func<int, bool> deleg = expr.Compile();
// Invoke the method and print the output.
Console.WriteLine("deleg(4) = {0}", deleg(4));

/*  This code produces the following output:

    deleg(4) = True
*/

Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2003

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

.NET Framework

Reference