azure-servicebus-dotnet
Azure Service Bus SDK for .NET. Enterprise messaging with queues, topics, subscriptions, and sessions. Use for reliable message delivery, pub/sub patterns, dead letter handling, and background processing. Triggers: "Service Bus", "ServiceBusClient", "ServiceBusSender", "ServiceBusReceiver", "ServiceBusProcessor", "message queue", "pub/sub .NET", "dead letter queue".
Best use case
azure-servicebus-dotnet is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Azure Service Bus SDK for .NET. Enterprise messaging with queues, topics, subscriptions, and sessions. Use for reliable message delivery, pub/sub patterns, dead letter handling, and background processing. Triggers: "Service Bus", "ServiceBusClient", "ServiceBusSender", "ServiceBusReceiver", "ServiceBusProcessor", "message queue", "pub/sub .NET", "dead letter queue".
Teams using azure-servicebus-dotnet should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/azure-servicebus-dotnet/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How azure-servicebus-dotnet Compares
| Feature / Agent | azure-servicebus-dotnet | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Azure Service Bus SDK for .NET. Enterprise messaging with queues, topics, subscriptions, and sessions. Use for reliable message delivery, pub/sub patterns, dead letter handling, and background processing. Triggers: "Service Bus", "ServiceBusClient", "ServiceBusSender", "ServiceBusReceiver", "ServiceBusProcessor", "message queue", "pub/sub .NET", "dead letter queue".
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Azure.Messaging.ServiceBus (.NET)
Enterprise messaging SDK for reliable message delivery with queues, topics, subscriptions, and sessions.
## Installation
```bash
dotnet add package Azure.Messaging.ServiceBus
dotnet add package Azure.Identity
```
**Current Version**: v7.20.1 (stable)
## Environment Variables
```bash
AZURE_SERVICEBUS_FULLY_QUALIFIED_NAMESPACE=<namespace>.servicebus.windows.net
# Or connection string (less secure)
AZURE_SERVICEBUS_CONNECTION_STRING=Endpoint=sb://...
```
## Authentication
### Microsoft Entra ID (Recommended)
```csharp
using Azure.Identity;
using Azure.Messaging.ServiceBus;
string fullyQualifiedNamespace = "<namespace>.servicebus.windows.net";
await using ServiceBusClient client = new(fullyQualifiedNamespace, new DefaultAzureCredential());
```
### Connection String
```csharp
string connectionString = "<connection_string>";
await using ServiceBusClient client = new(connectionString);
```
### ASP.NET Core Dependency Injection
```csharp
services.AddAzureClients(builder =>
{
builder.AddServiceBusClientWithNamespace("<namespace>.servicebus.windows.net");
builder.UseCredential(new DefaultAzureCredential());
});
```
## Client Hierarchy
```
ServiceBusClient
├── CreateSender(queueOrTopicName) → ServiceBusSender
├── CreateReceiver(queueName) → ServiceBusReceiver
├── CreateReceiver(topicName, subName) → ServiceBusReceiver
├── AcceptNextSessionAsync(queueName) → ServiceBusSessionReceiver
├── CreateProcessor(queueName) → ServiceBusProcessor
└── CreateSessionProcessor(queueName) → ServiceBusSessionProcessor
ServiceBusAdministrationClient (separate client for CRUD)
```
## Core Workflows
### 1. Send Messages
```csharp
await using ServiceBusClient client = new(fullyQualifiedNamespace, new DefaultAzureCredential());
ServiceBusSender sender = client.CreateSender("my-queue");
// Single message
ServiceBusMessage message = new("Hello world!");
await sender.SendMessageAsync(message);
// Safe batching (recommended)
using ServiceBusMessageBatch batch = await sender.CreateMessageBatchAsync();
if (batch.TryAddMessage(new ServiceBusMessage("Message 1")))
{
// Message added successfully
}
if (batch.TryAddMessage(new ServiceBusMessage("Message 2")))
{
// Message added successfully
}
await sender.SendMessagesAsync(batch);
```
### 2. Receive Messages
```csharp
ServiceBusReceiver receiver = client.CreateReceiver("my-queue");
// Single message
ServiceBusReceivedMessage message = await receiver.ReceiveMessageAsync();
string body = message.Body.ToString();
Console.WriteLine(body);
// Complete the message (removes from queue)
await receiver.CompleteMessageAsync(message);
// Batch receive
IReadOnlyList<ServiceBusReceivedMessage> messages = await receiver.ReceiveMessagesAsync(maxMessages: 10);
foreach (var msg in messages)
{
Console.WriteLine(msg.Body.ToString());
await receiver.CompleteMessageAsync(msg);
}
```
### 3. Message Settlement
```csharp
// Complete - removes message from queue
await receiver.CompleteMessageAsync(message);
// Abandon - releases lock, message can be received again
await receiver.AbandonMessageAsync(message);
// Defer - prevents normal receive, use ReceiveDeferredMessageAsync
await receiver.DeferMessageAsync(message);
// Dead Letter - moves to dead letter subqueue
await receiver.DeadLetterMessageAsync(message, "InvalidFormat", "Message body was not valid JSON");
```
### 4. Background Processing with Processor
```csharp
ServiceBusProcessor processor = client.CreateProcessor("my-queue", new ServiceBusProcessorOptions
{
AutoCompleteMessages = false,
MaxConcurrentCalls = 2
});
processor.ProcessMessageAsync += async (args) =>
{
try
{
string body = args.Message.Body.ToString();
Console.WriteLine($"Received: {body}");
await args.CompleteMessageAsync(args.Message);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Console.WriteLine($"Error processing: {ex.Message}");
await args.AbandonMessageAsync(args.Message);
}
};
processor.ProcessErrorAsync += (args) =>
{
Console.WriteLine($"Error source: {args.ErrorSource}");
Console.WriteLine($"Entity: {args.EntityPath}");
Console.WriteLine($"Exception: {args.Exception}");
return Task.CompletedTask;
};
await processor.StartProcessingAsync();
// ... application runs
await processor.StopProcessingAsync();
```
### 5. Sessions (Ordered Processing)
```csharp
// Send session message
ServiceBusMessage message = new("Hello")
{
SessionId = "order-123"
};
await sender.SendMessageAsync(message);
// Receive from next available session
ServiceBusSessionReceiver receiver = await client.AcceptNextSessionAsync("my-queue");
// Or receive from specific session
ServiceBusSessionReceiver receiver = await client.AcceptSessionAsync("my-queue", "order-123");
// Session state management
await receiver.SetSessionStateAsync(new BinaryData("processing"));
BinaryData state = await receiver.GetSessionStateAsync();
// Renew session lock
await receiver.RenewSessionLockAsync();
```
### 6. Dead Letter Queue
```csharp
// Receive from dead letter queue
ServiceBusReceiver dlqReceiver = client.CreateReceiver("my-queue", new ServiceBusReceiverOptions
{
SubQueue = SubQueue.DeadLetter
});
ServiceBusReceivedMessage dlqMessage = await dlqReceiver.ReceiveMessageAsync();
// Access dead letter metadata
string reason = dlqMessage.DeadLetterReason;
string description = dlqMessage.DeadLetterErrorDescription;
Console.WriteLine($"Dead letter reason: {reason} - {description}");
```
### 7. Topics and Subscriptions
```csharp
// Send to topic
ServiceBusSender topicSender = client.CreateSender("my-topic");
await topicSender.SendMessageAsync(new ServiceBusMessage("Broadcast message"));
// Receive from subscription
ServiceBusReceiver subReceiver = client.CreateReceiver("my-topic", "my-subscription");
var message = await subReceiver.ReceiveMessageAsync();
```
### 8. Administration (CRUD)
```csharp
var adminClient = new ServiceBusAdministrationClient(
fullyQualifiedNamespace,
new DefaultAzureCredential());
// Create queue
var options = new CreateQueueOptions("my-queue")
{
MaxDeliveryCount = 10,
LockDuration = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30),
RequiresSession = true,
DeadLetteringOnMessageExpiration = true
};
QueueProperties queue = await adminClient.CreateQueueAsync(options);
// Update queue
queue.LockDuration = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(60);
await adminClient.UpdateQueueAsync(queue);
// Create topic and subscription
await adminClient.CreateTopicAsync(new CreateTopicOptions("my-topic"));
await adminClient.CreateSubscriptionAsync(new CreateSubscriptionOptions("my-topic", "my-subscription"));
// Delete
await adminClient.DeleteQueueAsync("my-queue");
```
### 9. Cross-Entity Transactions
```csharp
var options = new ServiceBusClientOptions { EnableCrossEntityTransactions = true };
await using var client = new ServiceBusClient(connectionString, options);
ServiceBusReceiver receiverA = client.CreateReceiver("queueA");
ServiceBusSender senderB = client.CreateSender("queueB");
ServiceBusReceivedMessage receivedMessage = await receiverA.ReceiveMessageAsync();
using (var ts = new TransactionScope(TransactionScopeAsyncFlowOption.Enabled))
{
await receiverA.CompleteMessageAsync(receivedMessage);
await senderB.SendMessageAsync(new ServiceBusMessage("Forwarded"));
ts.Complete();
}
```
## Key Types Reference
| Type | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `ServiceBusClient` | Main entry point, manages connection |
| `ServiceBusSender` | Sends messages to queues/topics |
| `ServiceBusReceiver` | Receives messages from queues/subscriptions |
| `ServiceBusSessionReceiver` | Receives session messages |
| `ServiceBusProcessor` | Background message processing |
| `ServiceBusSessionProcessor` | Background session processing |
| `ServiceBusAdministrationClient` | CRUD for queues/topics/subscriptions |
| `ServiceBusMessage` | Message to send |
| `ServiceBusReceivedMessage` | Received message with metadata |
| `ServiceBusMessageBatch` | Batch of messages |
## Best Practices
1. **Use singletons** — Clients, senders, receivers, and processors are thread-safe
2. **Always dispose** — Use `await using` or call `DisposeAsync()`
3. **Dispose order** — Close senders/receivers/processors first, then client
4. **Use DefaultAzureCredential** — Prefer over connection strings for production
5. **Use processors for background work** — Handles lock renewal automatically
6. **Use safe batching** — `CreateMessageBatchAsync()` and `TryAddMessage()`
7. **Handle transient errors** — Use `ServiceBusException.Reason`
8. **Configure transport** — Use `AmqpWebSockets` if ports 5671/5672 are blocked
9. **Set appropriate lock duration** — Default is 30 seconds
10. **Use sessions for ordering** — FIFO within a session
## Error Handling
```csharp
try
{
await sender.SendMessageAsync(message);
}
catch (ServiceBusException ex) when (ex.Reason == ServiceBusFailureReason.ServiceBusy)
{
// Retry with backoff
}
catch (ServiceBusException ex)
{
Console.WriteLine($"Service Bus Error: {ex.Reason} - {ex.Message}");
}
```
## Related SDKs
| SDK | Purpose | Install |
|-----|---------|---------|
| `Azure.Messaging.ServiceBus` | Service Bus (this SDK) | `dotnet add package Azure.Messaging.ServiceBus` |
| `Azure.Messaging.EventHubs` | Event streaming | `dotnet add package Azure.Messaging.EventHubs` |
| `Azure.Messaging.EventGrid` | Event routing | `dotnet add package Azure.Messaging.EventGrid` |
## Reference Links
| Resource | URL |
|----------|-----|
| NuGet Package | https://www.nuget.org/packages/Azure.Messaging.ServiceBus |
| API Reference | https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/azure.messaging.servicebus |
| GitHub Source | https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-net/tree/main/sdk/servicebus/Azure.Messaging.ServiceBus |
| Troubleshooting | https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-net/blob/main/sdk/servicebus/Azure.Messaging.ServiceBus/TROUBLESHOOTING.md |Related Skills
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