What are the differences between async and future in C++11?

What are the differences between async and future in C++11?

In C++11, async is a function that runs a task asynchronously and returns a std::future object, while future is used to retrieve the result of that asynchronous task.

Can you explain how to use them in a simple example?

Sure! You can use std::async to launch a task and get a std::future to retrieve its result later. For example:

#include <iostream>
#include <future>

int compute() {
    return 42;
}

int main() {
    std::future<int> result = std::async(compute);
    std::cout << "Result: " << result.get() << std::endl;
}

What happens if the task takes too long?

If the task takes too long, you can manage it by using std::future::wait_for to set a timeout, allowing you to handle the situation gracefully.

Are there any performance considerations I should be aware of?

Yes, using async can introduce overhead due to thread management. It's important to consider the task's complexity and the number of concurrent tasks.