(This is a repeat of: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6139699/how-to-correctly-read-an-interlocked-incremented-int-field but, after reading the answers and comments, I&#39;m still not sure of the right answer.)

There&#39;s some code that I don&#39;t own and can&#39;t change to use locks that increments an int counter (numberOfUpdates) in several different threads.  All calls use:

    Interlocked.Increment(ref numberOfUpdates);

I want to read numberOfUpdates in my code.  Now since this is an int, I know that it can&#39;t tear.  But what&#39;s the best way to ensure that I get the latest value possible?  It seems like my options are:

    int localNumberOfUpdates = Interlocked.CompareExchange(ref numberOfUpdates, 0, 0);

Or

    int localNumberOfUpdates = Thread.VolatileRead(numberOfUpdates);

Will both work (in the sense of delivering the latest value possible regardless of optimizations, re-orderings, caching, etc.)?  Is one preferred over the other?  Is there a third option that&#39;s better?


All Interlocked Increment Solutions on Gang of Coders

Total of 1 Interlocked Increment Solutions

Reading an int that's updated by Interlocked on other threads