Can someone explain it to me what closure is in real simple language ? [duplicate]

Answer 1

The below answer was to the original wording which was akin to "How to explain closures to a 5-year old."

Take this box of legos; build yourself a nice little space craft. When you go to billy's house and bring your space craft there; with closures you can still can use all the pieces in your box of legos, even though the box was left in your bedroom.

Answer 2

If the 5 year old knew C#, I would explain with this code sample:

int i = 0;
string result = null;
Action iExaminer = () =>
{
  result = i % 2 == 1 ? "Odd" : "Even";
};
i = 1;
iExaminer();
Console.WriteLine(result);

If the 5 year old was learning linq, I would explain with this code sample:

string name = null;
IEnumerable<Customer> query = Customers.Where(c => c.Name == name);
name = "Bob";
 // query is resolved when enumerated (which is now)
 // Where will now call our anonymous method.
foreach(var customer in query)
{
  Console.WriteLine(customer.Name);
}

Answer 3

When you know how to do something in general, you can specify some (or all) details and get a closure.

For example, you know how to buy ice-cream. Yyou know what to do if you will be in front of any shop. But if you want to go to a particular shop (for example, due to a Sunday discount), you move out of house with the aim of buying ice-cream there. "Buy some ice-cream at a store on the corner" is a closure of "buy some ice-cream". In fact, all these are closures of "buy some ice-cream somewhere":

• Buy some ice-cream at the corner
• Buy two ice-creams
• Buy two ice-creams at the corner

Now go play with your friends, son! (and I bear in mind not say anything like that in front of the children)