What are the differences between Python's async IO and threading?

What are the differences between Python's async IO and threading?

Python's async IO is designed for handling I/O-bound tasks using a single thread, while threading allows for concurrent execution using multiple threads.

When should I use async IO instead of threads?

Use async IO for I/O-bound tasks where you need to handle many connections, like web servers. Threads are better for CPU-bound tasks.

Can you give an example of when async IO is more efficient?

Sure! In a web scraper that makes many HTTP requests, async IO can handle thousands of requests without blocking, while threads may become limited by the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL).

What are the downsides of using async IO?

Async IO can be more complex to implement and debug. It also requires an understanding of event loops and coroutines.