What are Python async generators and how do I use them?

What are Python async generators and how do I use them?

Python async generators are a way to define asynchronous iterators using the async def syntax. They allow you to yield values asynchronously, which is useful for handling I/O-bound tasks without blocking the event loop.

Can you show me a simple example of an async generator?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

import asyncio

async def async_gen():
    for i in range(5):
        await asyncio.sleep(1)  # Simulate an I/O operation
        yield i

async def main():
    async for value in async_gen():
        print(value)

asyncio.run(main())

What happens if I try to use a regular generator with async for?

If you try to use a regular generator with async for, you'll get a TypeError because regular generators are not awaitable. You need to use an async generator to work with async for.

Are there any performance benefits to using async generators?

Yes, async generators can improve performance in I/O-bound applications by allowing other tasks to run while waiting for I/O operations to complete, thus making better use of resources.