How To Run a Function Alongside an Async One in Python

Use the asyncio library, which provides tools to handle asynchronous operations, to run a function alongside an async one in Python. Here’s how you can handle this situation, depending on whether the function you want to run is synchronous or asynchronous:

import asyncio

# Example synchronous function
def sync_function():
	for i in range(5):
    	print(f"Synchronous Function: {i}")
    	import time
    	time.sleep(1)

# Example asynchronous function
async def async_function():
	for i in range(5):
    	print(f"Asynchronous Function: {i}")
    	await asyncio.sleep(1)

async def main():
	# Run the synchronous function in a separate thread alongside the async one
	await asyncio.gather(
    	async_function(),
    	asyncio.to_thread(sync_function)
	)

asyncio.run(main())

This ensures the optimal use of Python’s async capabilities, whether dealing with synchronous or asynchronous code.

Final Words

By combining asyncio.gather() and asyncio.to_thread(), you can seamlessly run synchronous functions alongside asynchronous ones without blocking the event loop. This approach is beneficial when integrating legacy synchronous code or performing inherently blocking tasks (e.g., file I/O or CPU-intensive operations). Leveraging these tools helps you make optimal use of Python’s asynchronous capabilities, keeping your applications responsive and efficient.