How can I use multiprocessing pools in Python?

How can I use multiprocessing pools in Python?

You can use the multiprocessing module in Python to create a pool of worker processes. This allows you to parallelize tasks.

Can you show me a simple example of using a multiprocessing pool?

Sure! Here's a basic example:

from multiprocessing import Pool

def square(x):
    return x * x

if __name__ == '__main__':
    with Pool(4) as p:
        results = p.map(square, [1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
    print(results)

What does the map function do in this context?

The map function applies the square function to each item in the list [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] in parallel, returning a list of results.

Are there any limitations I should be aware of when using multiprocessing?

Yes, some limitations include overhead from process creation, shared state issues, and the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) in CPython.