C++ Promise vs Future: Use Cases

What are the main differences between Promise and Future in C++?

In C++, a Promise is used to set a value or an exception for a Future, which is used to retrieve that value later. Essentially, a Promise is a way to communicate a result to a Future.

Can you give me an example of when to use Promise and Future?

Sure! Use a Promise when you want to produce a value asynchronously and a Future to retrieve that value later. For instance, in a multi-threaded application, a thread can set a value in a Promise, while another thread waits for that value using a Future.

What are some common use cases for these in real-world applications?

Common use cases include handling asynchronous tasks like network requests, managing background computations, and coordinating between threads in concurrent programming.

Are there any performance considerations I should be aware of?

Yes, using Promises and Futures can introduce overhead due to synchronization and context switching. It's important to assess the trade-offs in performance versus code clarity.