The following is a SharePoint dictionary word of the day: After events.
After Events in SharePoint: The Asynchronous Power Feature You’re Probably Not Using Yet
If you work with SharePoint automation, event receivers, or custom business logic, understanding the after event model is essential. It’s one of those quiet-but-powerful features that can make your environment faster, safer, and more predictable — especially when dealing with heavy or complex operations.
What Is an “After Event” in SharePoint?
An after event is an asynchronous event that fires only after the action that raised the event has fully completed.
That means:
- The user action finishes first
- SharePoint commits the change
- Then your custom logic runs in the background
- This is different from synchronous events, which block the user until your code finishes.
Why After Events Matter
After events are the backbone of smooth, scalable SharePoint automation. They allow you to run logic without slowing down the user experience.
Here’s why they’re so valuable:
- Non-blocking performance — Users don’t wait for your code to finish.
- Reliable sequencing — The item or document is already saved before your handler runs.
- Safe for heavy operations — Perfect for long-running or resource-intensive tasks.
- Ideal for integrations — APIs, external databases, and cloud services won’t freeze the UI.
Real SharePoint Example: Why After Events Shine
Imagine a user updates a list item that triggers your automation. You want to:
- Generate a PDF
- Push data to an external CRM
- Update a dashboard
- Send notifications
- Log activity to an audit list
Doing this synchronously would slow down the save operation.
With an after event, the user sees the update complete instantly — while your automation quietly handles everything behind the scenes.
Common Use Cases for After Events
Use after events when your logic is:
- Batch-oriented
- Non-critical to immediate user action
- Dependent on the final saved state
- Triggered by workflows or automation
Avoid them when you need to validate or block an action — that’s synchronous territory.