What are futures in Python and how can I use them?

What are futures in Python and how can I use them?

Futures in Python are a way to execute tasks asynchronously. They allow you to run code in the background and retrieve results later.

Can you show me a simple example of using futures?

Sure! You can use the concurrent.futures module. Here's a basic example:

from concurrent.futures import Future, ThreadPoolExecutor

def task(n):
    return n * n

with ThreadPoolExecutor() as executor:
    future = executor.submit(task, 5)
    print(future.result())  # Output: 25

What are the benefits of using futures?

Futures help improve performance by allowing concurrent execution, making better use of system resources, and simplifying code for asynchronous tasks.

Are there any limitations I should be aware of?

Yes, futures can introduce complexity in error handling and debugging. Also, they may not be suitable for CPU-bound tasks without proper management.