What are Python async iterators?

Can you explain what Python async iterators are?

Sure! Python async iterators allow you to iterate over data asynchronously, enabling non-blocking operations.

How do they differ from regular iterators?

Regular iterators block the execution until the data is available, while async iterators use 'await' to yield control.

Can you provide a simple code example?

Absolutely! Here's a basic example:

import asyncio

class AsyncIterator:
    def __init__(self, n):
        self.n = n
        self.current = 0

    def __aiter__(self):
        return self

    async def __anext__(self):
        if self.current < self.n:
            await asyncio.sleep(1)  # Simulate an async operation
            self.current += 1
            return self.current
        else:
            raise StopAsyncIteration

async def main():
    async for number in AsyncIterator(5):
        print(number)

asyncio.run(main())

What are some use cases for async iterators?

They are great for handling streams of data, like reading from a database or making API calls without blocking the main thread.