What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous programming?

Synchronous and asynchronous programming are two different approaches to how a computer program processes requests and handles multiple tasks. Synchronous programming is the traditional way of programming where the code executes line by line, and each task waits for the previous one to complete before it can start. In other words, it is a blocking method of execution. Asynchronous programming, on the other hand, allows multiple tasks to execute simultaneously, without waiting for each other to complete. It is a non-blocking method of execution.

Synchronous programming is easy to understand and debug, but it can be slow when handling multiple tasks. Asynchronous programming is more efficient when handling multiple tasks, but it can be more difficult to understand and debug. Asynchronous programming is widely used in web development, where multiple requests need to be processed simultaneously, and the user interface needs to remain responsive.

One of the key differences between synchronous and asynchronous programming is how they handle input/output (I/O) operations. In synchronous programming, I/O operations block the entire program until they are completed, which can make the program unresponsive. In asynchronous programming, I/O operations can be handled in the background, while the program continues to execute. Asynchronous programming is also used for event-driven programming, where events trigger specific actions in the program.