StreamReader.ReadToEnd Method

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Updated: December 2010

When it is called by trusted applications, reads the stream from the current position to the end of the stream.

Namespace:  System.IO
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

'Declaration
Public Overrides Function ReadToEnd As String
public override string ReadToEnd()

Return Value

Type: System.String
The rest of the stream as a string, from the current position to the end. If the current position is at the end of the stream, returns the empty string ("").

Exceptions

Exception Condition
OutOfMemoryException

There is insufficient memory to allocate a buffer for the returned string.

IOException

An I/O error occurs.

Remarks

This method overrides TextReader.ReadToEnd.

ReadToEnd works best when you need to read all the input from the current position to the end of the stream. If more control is needed over how many characters are read from the stream, use the Read(array<Char[], Int32, Int32) method overload, which generally results in better performance.

ReadToEnd assumes that the stream knows when it has reached an end. For interactive protocols in which the server sends data only when you ask for it and does not close the connection, ReadToEnd might block indefinitely because it does not reach an end, and should be avoided.

Note that when using the Read method, it is more efficient to use a buffer that is the same size as the internal buffer of the stream. If the size of the buffer was unspecified when the stream was constructed, its default size is 4 kilobytes (4096 bytes).

If the current method throws an OutOfMemoryException, the reader's position in the underlying Stream object is advanced by the number of characters the method was able to read, but the characters already read into the internal ReadLine buffer are discarded. If you manipulate the position of the underlying stream after reading data into the buffer, the position of the underlying stream might not match the position of the internal buffer. To reset the internal buffer, call the DiscardBufferedData method; however, this method slows performance and should be called only when absolutely necessary.

Version Information

Silverlight

Supported in: 5, 4, 3

Silverlight for Windows Phone

Supported in: Windows Phone OS 7.1, Windows Phone OS 7.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: Xbox 360, Windows Phone OS 7.0

Platforms

For a list of the operating systems and browsers that are supported by Silverlight, see Supported Operating Systems and Browsers.

Change History

Date

History

Reason

December 2010

Clarified blocking condition.

Customer feedback.