What are the differences between async/await and threads in Rust?

What are the differences between async/await and threads in Rust?

In Rust, async/await is a way to write asynchronous code that allows for non-blocking operations, while threads are used for concurrent execution. Async/await is more lightweight and efficient for I/O-bound tasks, whereas threads are better for CPU-bound tasks.

Can you give me an example of when to use async/await over threads?

Sure! If you're building a web server that handles many requests, using async/await allows you to handle multiple connections without blocking. In contrast, if you're performing heavy computations, using threads might be more appropriate to utilize multiple CPU cores.

What are the performance implications of using one over the other?

Async/await generally has lower overhead and can handle more tasks concurrently without consuming many system resources. Threads, while potentially faster for CPU-bound tasks, can lead to higher memory usage and context switching overhead.

Are there any libraries in Rust that help with async programming?

Yes, popular libraries include Tokio and async-std, which provide async runtimes and utilities for building asynchronous applications in Rust.