What are synchronous and asynchronous functions in Python?

Can you explain the difference between synchronous and asynchronous functions in Python?

Sure! Synchronous functions run sequentially, blocking the execution until the current function completes. Asynchronous functions, on the other hand, allow other tasks to run while waiting for an operation to complete, improving efficiency.

Can you give me an example of each?

Of course! A synchronous example would be a function that reads a file and processes it line by line. An asynchronous example would be using asyncio to fetch data from multiple APIs without waiting for each request to finish before starting the next.

When should I use asynchronous functions?

You should use asynchronous functions when dealing with I/O-bound tasks, like network requests or file operations, where waiting for a response can slow down your program.

Are there any downsides to using asynchronous functions?

Yes, asynchronous programming can be more complex and harder to debug. It also requires a different mindset, as you need to think about concurrency and potential race conditions.