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

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

Python async iterators allow you to iterate over asynchronous data streams. They are defined using the __aiter__() and __anext__() methods.

Can you give me an example of an async iterator?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

import asyncio

class AsyncCounter:
    def __init__(self, start, end):
        self.current = start
        self.end = end

    def __aiter__(self):
        return self

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

async def main():
    async for number in AsyncCounter(0, 5):
        print(number)

asyncio.run(main())

How do I run this async iterator example?

You can run the example by copying it into a Python file and executing it. Make sure you have Python 3.7 or higher installed.

What are some common use cases for async iterators?

Common use cases include handling streams of data, reading files asynchronously, and making API calls where you want to process data as it arrives.