Async Programming

Asynchronous programming, also known as async programming, is a type of programming that allows certain operations to run concurrently without having to wait for other operations to complete. This method increases the efficiency of programs and helps to improve the performance. Most computer programs are synchronous, meaning each action or operation occurs one after the other. If one action takes a long time to complete (like a download or a complex calculation), it can hold up all the actions behind it. This can result in a program that runs slowly or appears to freeze. In contrast, asynchronous programming is designed so that long tasks can run in the background while shorter tasks keep executing. Once the long task is finished, it’s result is returned to the main program for processing. This approach allows programs to stay unblocked and responsive. Async programming is commonly used in scenarios of network access, file io, and other areas that require waiting for resources to respond. Languages such as JavaScript and Python, and frameworks like Node.js, make extensive use of async programming.