What are async iterators in Python and how do I use them?

What are async iterators in Python and how do I use them?

Async iterators allow you to iterate over data asynchronously, which is useful for handling I/O-bound tasks without blocking.

Can you give me an example of how to implement an async iterator?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

import asyncio

class AsyncIterator:
    def __init__(self, n):
        self.n = n
        self.current = 0

    def __aiter__(self):
        return self

    async def __anext__(self):
        if self.current < self.n:
            await asyncio.sleep(1)  # Simulate an async operation
            self.current += 1
            return self.current
        else:
            raise StopAsyncIteration

async def main():
    async for number in AsyncIterator(5):
        print(number)

asyncio.run(main())

What are the benefits of using async iterators over regular iterators?

Async iterators are non-blocking, allowing other tasks to run while waiting for data, which improves performance in I/O-bound applications.

Are there any libraries that support async iterators?

Yes, libraries like aiohttp for HTTP requests and asyncpg for PostgreSQL support async iterators for efficient data handling.