How do I use the context package in Go?

How do I use the context package in Go?

The context package in Go is used to manage deadlines, cancellation signals, and request-scoped values across API boundaries. You can create a context using context.Background() or context.TODO(), and then pass it to functions that require it.

Can you give me an example of creating a context?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

ctx := context.Background()
// or with a timeout
ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
defer cancel()

What is the purpose of context.WithCancel?

context.WithCancel creates a new context that can be canceled. This is useful for stopping operations when they are no longer needed. You call the cancel function to signal cancellation.

How do I handle context in goroutines?

When using goroutines, always pass the context to them. This allows the goroutine to listen for cancellation signals and handle them appropriately.