await unwraps the result

Context: await extracts the result from a Task<T> or ValueTask<T>, returning the underlying value. For Task, it waits for completion without returning a value.

using System.Threading.Tasks;

public class Example
{
    public async Task<int> GetNumberAsync() => 42;

    public async Task UseAsync()
    {
        Task<int> task = GetNumberAsync();
        int result = await task; // unwraps the int
        // result == 42
    }
}

Without await

You would need to check IsCompleted, use continuations, or block with .Result.

Task<int> task = GetNumberAsync();
int result = task.Result; // blocks, dangerous

Real-world usage example

Chaining async calls: await makes sequential async calls natural.

var user = await GetUserAsync();
var orders = await GetOrdersAsync(user.Id);

Related sections

• 9.2 async and await
• 9.2.3 Compiler transformation into state machine