What are the differences between asynchronous and synchronous programming in Node.js?

What are the differences between asynchronous and synchronous programming in Node.js?

Synchronous programming executes tasks one after another, while asynchronous programming allows tasks to run concurrently, improving efficiency.

Can you give me an example of synchronous code in Node.js?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

const fs = require('fs');

const data = fs.readFileSync('file.txt', 'utf8');
console.log(data);

This code reads a file synchronously, blocking the execution until the file is read.

And what about an asynchronous example?

Here's an asynchronous example:

const fs = require('fs');

fs.readFile('file.txt', 'utf8', (err, data) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log(data);
});

This code reads the file without blocking, allowing other operations to continue.

What are the benefits of using asynchronous programming?

Asynchronous programming improves performance, allows for better resource utilization, and enhances user experience by keeping the application responsive.