c# - Should I use await with async Action method?

Question

I need to implement an asynch Action in my Controller for a long running external API call.

Looking at some tutorials, I have implemented my method like this:

    [AsyncTimeout(200)]
    public async Task<ActionResult> DoAsync()
    {
        // Execute long running call.
        return View();
    }

My question is, is this enough to make is truly non-block asynchronous? Do I also need to apply the await operator, and if so how should I do that?

Answer 1

To write non-blocking asynchronous code, you need to execute some kind of existing non-blocking asynchronous operation, such as Task.Delay(), or async network or file IO.

In short, the await keyword consumes asynchrony; it does not create it.

If you don't have any actual asynchronous work to do, await won't do you any good.