How to Call an Async Function from Sync Code in Python Correctly?

Learn the correct method to call async functions from synchronous code in Python using asyncio and aiohttp modules.
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How to Call an Async Function from Sync Code in Python Correctly?

Calling asynchronous functions from synchronous code in Python, especially when using Python 3.x, is a common challenge developers face. With the growing popularity of asyncio and networking libraries like aiohttp, the need to integrate async and sync codebases seamlessly has never been more pressing.

Understanding Async and Sync Functions

Before diving into the implementation, let's clarify the difference between async and sync functions:

Synchronous Functions execute one at a time, sequentially. Each function call waits for the previous one to finish.

Asynchronous Functions, on the other hand, can allow other operations to run while waiting for their own results, usually using the async and await keywords.

Why Mix Async with Sync?

Mixing async with sync functions is not uncommon, especially when dealing with existing synchronous applications that need to leverage new asynchronous capabilities (like non-blocking I/O operations). This is where asyncio comes into play as the backbone of handling such integrations.

Calling an Async Function From Sync Code

Example with aiohttp

Suppose you have an asynchronous function that fetches data from a URL using aiohttp:

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Calling fetch_data from Synchronous Code

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Explanation

Define the Async Function: The fetch_data function is defined as an async function using async def and utilizes aiohttp for making non-blocking HTTP requests.

Execution: Now the fetch_data_sync can be called like any other synchronous function, making the transition between sync and async seamless.

Points to Consider

Manageable context: Wrapping async calls in sync contexts should be managed carefully to avoid side effects, like blocking the main thread unnecessarily.