What is the difference between asynchronous and synchronous JavaScript?

What is the difference between asynchronous and synchronous JavaScript?

Synchronous JavaScript executes code in sequence, blocking further execution until the current task is complete. Asynchronous JavaScript allows tasks to run in the background, enabling other code to execute without waiting.

Can you give me an example of synchronous code?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

console.log('Start');
console.log('Middle');
console.log('End');

This will log 'Start', then 'Middle', and finally 'End' in that order.

And what about asynchronous code?

An example of asynchronous code is using setTimeout:

console.log('Start');
setTimeout(() => {
  console.log('Middle');
}, 1000);
console.log('End');

This will log 'Start', then 'End', and after 1 second, it will log 'Middle'.

Why is asynchronous programming important?

Asynchronous programming is important because it allows for non-blocking operations, improving performance and user experience, especially in web applications where tasks like API calls can take time.