When should I use threading instead of multiprocessing?

When should I use threading instead of multiprocessing?

You should use threading when your tasks are I/O-bound, like network requests or file operations, as threads can handle multiple I/O operations concurrently.

What about CPU-bound tasks? Should I use multiprocessing for those?

Yes, for CPU-bound tasks, multiprocessing is preferred because it allows you to utilize multiple CPU cores, improving performance.

Can you give me an example of an I/O-bound task?

Sure! An example of an I/O-bound task is downloading files from the internet, where the program spends a lot of time waiting for data to be received.

Are there any downsides to using threading?

Yes, threading can lead to issues like race conditions and deadlocks, especially if shared resources are not managed properly.