What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous tasks in IOS?

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What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous tasks in IOS?

In iOS development, synchronous and asynchronous tasks refer to different ways of executing code and managing the flow of execution.

Synchronous tasks, also known as blocking tasks, are executed in a sequential manner. When a synchronous task is called, the program waits for it to complete before moving on to the next task. This means that the execution of the program is paused until the synchronous task finishes its execution. Synchronous tasks are typically used when the order of execution is important and when the program needs to wait for a task to complete before proceeding.

On the other hand, asynchronous tasks, also known as non-blocking tasks, are executed independently from the main program flow. When an asynchronous task is called, the program continues its execution without waiting for the task to complete. Asynchronous tasks are typically used when the order of execution is not important, or when the program needs to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Asynchronous tasks are commonly used for network requests, file operations, and other time-consuming operations that could potentially block the main thread and make the user interface unresponsive.

To handle asynchronous tasks in iOS, various techniques are available, such as completion handlers, delegates, notifications, and closures. These techniques allow developers to define code blocks that will be executed once the asynchronous task completes, enabling them to handle the results or perform additional actions.

In summary, the main difference between synchronous and asynchronous tasks in iOS is that synchronous tasks block the program's execution until they complete, while asynchronous tasks allow the program to continue its execution without waiting for the task to finish.