This method retrieves the specified resource using the default method for the protocol associated with the URI scheme specified in address. The data is downloaded asynchronously using thread resources that are automatically allocated from the thread pool.

This method does not block the calling thread while downloading the resource. To download a resource and block while waiting for the server's response, use one of the erload:System.Net.WebClient.DownloadData methods. When the download completes, the WebClient.DownloadDataCompleted event is raised. Your application must handle this event to receive notification. The downloaded data is available in the DownloadDataCompletedEventArgs.Result property.

You can use the WebClient.CancelAsync method to cancel asynchronous operations that have not completed.

This method uses the RETR command to download an FTP resource. For an HTTP resource, the GET method is used.

If the WebClient.BaseAddress property is not an empty string ("") and address does not contain an absolute URI, address must be a relative URI that is combined with WebClient.BaseAddress to form the absolute URI of the requested data. If the WebClient.QueryString property is not an empty string, it is appended to address.

Namespace: System.Net
Assembly: System (in System.dll)
Assembly Versions: 2.0.0.0, 4.0.0.0