async/await basic understanding
Async await is new swift feature which is introduced in swift 5.5 in WWDC2021. It is the part of concurrency changes in swift. These new keywords are used to write asynchronous functions.In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at async-await and how it can make your asynchronous programming tasks in Swift more manageable.
Concurrency is the capability to run multiple task at the same time.
What is Asynchronous Programming?
Asynchronous programming is a programming paradigm in which a single task is divided into smaller parts that can run concurrently. This can be accomplished using callbacks, promises, or coroutines. Asynchronous programming is important because it allows an application to continue executing while it waits for a slow or long-running task to complete. This is especially important for user interfaces, where a slow-performing task can result in a sluggish and unresponsive interface.
What is async-await?
Async-await is a swift language feature that allows for asynchronous programming in a manner that is easier to read and write than traditional methods like callbacks and promises.
It’s a combination of two keywords: “async” and “await”. The “async” keyword is used to define an asynchronous function, and the “await” keyword is used to wait for the result of an asynchronous function.
How does async-await work?
The async-await feature in Swift works by using coroutines, which are lightweight and low-overhead ways to run code asynchronously. When an asynchronous function is called, it returns a future that represents the result of the function. The “await” keyword is used to wait for the result of the future. The coroutine is then suspended until the future is completed, and the result is returned to the caller.
Benefits of using async-await
- Readability: Async-await makes asynchronous code much easier to read, write, and understand. The code looks like sequential code, which makes it easier to follow.
- Simplicity: Async-await eliminates the need for complex callbacks and promises, making asynchronous programming much simpler.
- Error handling: Async-await also makes error handling easier, as errors can be caught using traditional try-catch blocks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, async-await is a powerful language feature that makes asynchronous programming in Swift much easier. With its ability to make code more readable, simplify complex tasks, and improve error handling, it’s a feature that every Swift developer should know. Whether you’re working on a user interface, a server-side application, or anything in between, async-await can help you write better, more maintainable code.
