Many people get overwhelmed by the jargon of Asynchronous programming language. But, don’t worry now, as we’ve got you covered. In this blog post, we will break down the concept of Asynchronous programming language to make it easier for people to understand. So, what exactly is Asynchronous programming?
By definition, the Asynchronous programming model is also known as nonblocking code. It allows tasks to be executed independently without waiting for the other one to complete. This means that multiple related operations can be performed at the same time, improving the efficiency and responsiveness of software applications.
Still not clear? No worries! Let me give you a real-life example to make you understand easily. Imagine working in a kitchen and performing multiple tasks at once rather than waiting for one to finish. Asynchronous programming is the same where you can perform multiple tasks together without waiting for one to complete. On the other hand, Synchronous model tasks are executed one after the other. While, in Asynchronous, the tasks can overlap allowing your program to remain responsive and efficient.
Let’s now understand the process of the synchronous programming model so that it will be easier for you to compare and understand.
Synchronous Programming
In synchronous programming, you have to work by following a strict sequence. Let me explain to you with an interesting example.
Suppose you are in the kitchen along with the recipe book to cook pasta. You need to follow the steps mentioned in a recipe book to cook pasta. Imagine it contains the following steps.
Step 1: Boil the pasta
Step 2: Cut the vegetables
Step 3: Boil the chicken
Step 4: make sauce
Step 5: Fry vegetables and chicken
Step 6: Assemble all of them
So, in the synchronous model, it is just like following a roadmap, you go from one step to the other. This process ensures that you have followed all the steps in order correctly. It also means that you cannot work on various sections at the same time.
Hopefully, you get it now that synchronous programming is just like cooking pasta by following step-by-step instructions. In this model, everything happens in a specific order and you have to wait for one step to move to the next one. Whereas the asynchronous model is its opposite so let’s discover how it works.
Asynchronous Programming
In simple words, Asynchronous programming on the other hand works on the principle that multiple tasks can be executed at the same time. Suppose you’re cooking pasta for dinner. You can start cutting the vegetables while the pasta is boiling, you do not have to wait for it to get boiled first. Similarly, you can start making the sauce while the chicken is cooking, you do not have to wait for the chicken to get cooked to prepare your sauce. This way, you can prepare the meal faster.
So, technically, asynchronous programming in software development allows a single program or process to execute multiple tasks simultaneously, without waiting for each task to complete before starting the next one.
Asynchronous Functions
Let now explore the Asynchronous functions and how they are used in various programming languages including javascript which is used both in frontend and backend.
1- Frontend Applications
In frontend development, the asynchronous function is used in actions like fetching data from APIs, handling user interactions, and performing other tasks that may involve IO operations, such as reading and writing to DOM( Document object model). By using asynchronous functions, frontend applications can maintain a smooth and responsive user experience, as they don’t block the main flow while waiting for operations to be completed.
2- Backend Processes
In backend development, asynchronous functions are important for handling concurrent tasks and IO-bound operations such as making network calls, interacting with databases, and processing large amounts of data. Asynchronous programs allow backend servers to handle multiple requests simultaneously, improving the overall performance and scalability.
3- Web Scrapping And Data Processing
Asynchronous programming is specifically useful with tasks like web scrapping, where multiple HTTP (Hypertext transfer protocol) requests need to be made to gather data from different sources. Once the data is collected, asynchronous functions can be used to process and store it, without blocking the execution of other tasks.
4- Other Programming Languages
The asynchronous programming model is not just restricted to javascript as it is also popular in other languages like Node.js, Java, typescript, and Dart.
In conclusion, Asynchronous functions play an important role in frontend and backend development. It enables applications to handle IO-bound tasks efficiently. So, if you are building web apps, processing data, or performing other IO operations, understanding and using Asynchronous programming can greatly benefit your development process.
