The term asynchronous refers to events that do not occur at the same time. Asynchronous, in other words, is a set of events that occur at different times. The opposite of the asynchronous concept, which is synchronous, refers to a set of events that occur simultaneously. Asynchronous is a term commonly used in fields such as communication or data transfer. Asynchronous is a method in which operations are performed at their own pace, as opposed to synchronous, which means "simultaneous" or "at the same time". Therefore, asynchronous operations offer a more flexible structure instead of matching the timing of operations.
For instance, in an asynchronous system, when data is sent from one system to another, a specific "clock" is not used between the sender and the receiver. The data is sent by the sender at its natural pace, and the receiver also receives the data at its natural pace. As a result, it is not affected by delays in the communication channel and more efficient communication is achieved. The most significant difference between asynchronous and synchronous systems is that they are unsynchronized.
Looking at different areas of use, asynchronous is also a term used for mechanical and electrical systems such as electric motors. In these systems, asynchronous motors operate between electrical sources and rotor of motors instead of direct connection. This results in lower cost, less maintenance, and higher efficiency.
In the software field, asynchronous refers to the occurrence of asynchronous events independently of the actual program in computer technologies. If events are synchronized separately from a universal clock scheme in any system, this system is an asynchronous working system. These asynchronous systems are generally developed with a modular structure. Each module can work independently of other modules, and these modules can communicate with each other. All of these modules form asynchronous systems called unsynchronized systems.
What Are Examples of Asynchronous Systems?
Asynchronous networks and systems are widely used. Some examples of asynchronous systems are:
- Internet
- JTS
- Bluetooth
- Email Servers
- Distributed Computing Networks
Internet
The Internet is a large asynchronous network that enables data transfer between computers and other devices worldwide. Operations such as sending emails, downloading files, or accessing web pages over the Internet have an asynchronous structure.
JTS
JTS, which is used by mobile devices for data transfer, also has an asynchronous structure. For example, when a message is sent or an application is downloaded, this process is carried out via JTS.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology is an asynchronous network used for data transfer between wireless devices. For example, music can be transferred between a Bluetooth speaker and a mobile phone.
Email Servers
Email servers are networks with an asynchronous structure used for sending and receiving messages. When sending an email, messages are not sent directly from the sender's device to the recipient's device, but are transferred through servers.
Distributed Computing Networks
Distributed computing networks are asynchronous networks used for sharing data and processing power among different interconnected computer systems. For example, combining computer systems from different universities for a research project can lead to higher performance computing.
What Is the Role of Asynchronous in Blockchain Networks?
Asynchronous processes and systems provide a more flexible, efficient, and economical structure. Therefore, they are frequently used in technology and industrial fields. Asynchronous and semi-synchronous networks are often present in the cryptocurrency industry. This is because there is no information given about the data transmitted to the nodes within blockchain networks. Nodes can have differences regarding the general structure of the networks. When nodes transmit any information, they do not need to wait in line, and thus the processing capacity of the network increases.
