When should i use async/await in Python?

Question

Meta Context:

I'm building an api using aiohttp. Since it's an asynchronous framework, I have to use async to define handlers. Example:

async def index_handler(request):
    return web.Response(text="Hello, world")

app = web.Application()
app.router.add_route("GET", "/", index_handler)

Code Context:

During development, I found myself in a situation where i have nested function calls like so:

def bar():
    return "Hi"

async def foo():
    return bar()

await foo()

When I was thinking about performance, I didn't know whether or not I should do these nested functions all async as well. Example:

async def bar()
    return "Hi"

async def foo():
    return await bar()

await foo()

Question:

What is the best way to do nested function calls to optimize performance? Always use async/await or always use sync? Does this makes a difference?

Processes that are naturally asynchronous should be done with async. Eg: waiting for any kind of IO. In your case it's the opposite: your "async-everywhere" solution is slower, since async does not come for free. That's another reason why every performance optimisation should come with before-after benchmarks. — zerkms
– zerkms, Commented Sep 27, 2018 at 0:38

Yongkin · Accepted Answer · 2024-02-01 04:30:52Z

2

Well in your case you dont need to async everything unless you have code that could potentially block things for example:

def bar():
    """This function is not async because there is no need to."""
    return "Hi"

async def foo():
    return bar()

await foo()

But if your function bar for examples sleeps or do some async functions inside, then you should async the function

async def bar():
    """This function needs to be async because there 
    are operations that potentially could block"""
    await asyncio.sleep(1)
    return "Hi"

async def foo():
    return bar()

await foo()

So for summarize, if you are using async operations you need to have a very clear idea of how your program runs and what it is doing in order to avoid to put async everywhere.

edited Feb 1, 2024 at 4:30

Yongkin

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answered Dec 15, 2021 at 12:16

camp0

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