What are futures in Python and how can I use them?

What are futures in Python and how can I use them?

Futures in Python are a way to execute tasks asynchronously. They allow you to run functions in the background and retrieve their results later.

Can you give me an example of how to implement futures?

Sure! You can use the concurrent.futures module. Here's a simple example:

from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor

def task(n):
    return n * n

with ThreadPoolExecutor() as executor:
    future = executor.submit(task, 10)
    print(future.result())  # Outputs: 100

What are the benefits of using futures?

The main benefits include improved performance through parallel execution, better resource utilization, and a cleaner code structure for handling asynchronous tasks.

Are there any limitations I should be aware of?

Yes, some limitations include potential complexity in debugging, the overhead of managing threads, and the need for thread-safe code when sharing data.