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Asynchronous

Definition

Of events that are not synchronized or coordinated in time, the antonym of synchronous.

Understanding the Term

In computer science, asynchrony refers to the occurrence of events that are independent of the main program.  The performance of asynchronous systems does not require foreign signals or messages; therefore, events in such a system can be used as an activity synchronization tool to log system changes.

In such systems, data is supplied sequentially, rather than perpetually, through a process called asynchronous communication. Instant messaging tools and emails, where users can send messages at various times, are common examples of such communication.

Takeaway

In an asynchronous system, operations are coordinated by events and changes in the system rather than by a global clock signal.

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