What is the difference between async and sync in C#?

What is the difference between async and sync in C#?

In C#, synchronous (sync) methods block the execution until they complete, while asynchronous (async) methods allow other operations to run concurrently.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! A sync method might be a simple file read that waits until the file is fully read. An async method would read the file without blocking, allowing other tasks to run in the meantime.

When should I use async over sync?

Use async when you have I/O-bound operations, like web requests or file access, to improve responsiveness and performance.

Are there any downsides to using async?

Yes, async can introduce complexity, such as managing state and error handling, and it may not always improve performance for CPU-bound tasks.