What are some examples of synchronous requests in programming?

What are some examples of synchronous requests in programming?

Synchronous requests are those that block the execution until the response is received. For example, in JavaScript, using XMLHttpRequest in a synchronous mode is a classic example.

Can you give me a code snippet for that?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhr.open('GET', 'https://api.example.com/data', false); // false makes the request synchronous
xhr.send();
if (xhr.status === 200) {
    console.log(xhr.responseText);
}

What are the downsides of using synchronous requests?

The main downside is that it can lead to a poor user experience, as the application becomes unresponsive while waiting for the response.

Are there better alternatives?

Yes, using asynchronous requests, like fetch in JavaScript, allows the application to remain responsive while waiting for the response.