What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication?

Synchronous communication refers to a type of communication where the sender and receiver are synchronized and operate in a coordinated manner. In this type of communication, both parties must be active and available at the same time for the exchange of information to occur. It follows a fixed timing mechanism, where data is transmitted in a continuous stream, and the sender waits for an acknowledgment from the receiver before sending the next piece of data.

On the other hand, asynchronous communication is a type of communication where the sender and receiver do not need to be synchronized or operate in a coordinated manner. In this type of communication, data is transmitted in separate units called packets, and each packet contains information about its destination and order. The sender can transmit packets at any time, and the receiver can process them at its own pace. Asynchronous communication does not require the sender to wait for an acknowledgment before sending the next packet.

In summary, the main difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication lies in the timing mechanism and coordination between the sender and receiver. Synchronous communication requires synchronization and operates in a coordinated manner, while asynchronous communication does not require synchronization and allows for independent operation of the sender and receiver.