Coroutine

Coroutines are <a href="/facts/Computer_program/e38jH9N9">computer program</a> components that allow execution to be suspended and resumed, generalizing <a href="/facts/Subroutine/9vFJrg0A">subroutines</a> for <a href="/facts/Non-preemptive_multitasking/svrQ2DMM">cooperative multitasking</a>. Coroutines are well-suited for implementing familiar program components such as <a href="/facts/Cooperative_multitasking/svrQ2DMM">cooperative tasks</a>, <a href="/facts/Exception_handling/VrJxgb9r">exceptions</a>, <a href="/facts/Event_loop/NNcN8Auy">event loops</a>, <a href="/facts/Iterator/f0HhTBWz">iterators</a>, <a href="/facts/Lazy_evaluation/mD3DxDkc">infinite lists</a> and <a href="/facts/Pipeline_(software)/vNahQdsH">pipes</a>.
They have been described as "functions whose execution you can pause".
<a href="/facts/Melvin_Conway/Dmj3vg32">Melvin Conway</a> coined the term coroutine in 1958 when he applied it to the construction of an <a href="/facts/Assembly_language/7XuV0cla">assembly program</a>. The first published explanation of the coroutine appeared later, in 1963.

Coroutine open-in-new

Coroutine