How do I terminate threads in Python?

How do I terminate threads in Python?

In Python, you can terminate threads using the threading module. However, it's important to note that you can't forcibly stop a thread. Instead, you can use a flag to signal the thread to exit gracefully.

Can you show me an example of using a flag to stop a thread?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

import threading
import time

# Flag to control the thread
stop_thread = False

def my_thread():
    while not stop_thread:
        print("Thread is running...")
        time.sleep(1)

# Create and start the thread
thread = threading.Thread(target=my_thread)
thread.start()

# Let it run for 5 seconds
time.sleep(5)

# Signal the thread to stop
stop_thread = True
thread.join()  # Wait for the thread to finish
print("Thread has been terminated.")

What happens if I don't use a flag?

If you don't use a flag, the thread will continue running indefinitely, which can lead to issues like resource leaks or unresponsive programs. It's essential to manage thread lifecycles properly.