# Aysnchronous I/O

_NNG_ provides rich support for {{i:asynchronous I/O}}.
This allows applications to achieve high levels of concurrency with a
minimum of fuss, optimized for the platform.

Asynchronous I/O is performed without blocking calling application
threads, so they may continue to perform other work.

## AIO Handles

Applications create an `nng_aio` object with a function to call when
the operation is done (along with a pointer to application private data),
then submit the operation.

These `nng_aio` objects are created using the [`nng_aio_alloc()`](nng_aio_alloc.md),
and destroyed using [`nng_aio_free()`](nng_aio_free.md).

The `nng_aio` object itself is declared like this:

```c
#include <nng/nng.h>

typedef struct nng_aio nng_aio;
```

Every asynchronous operation uses its own instance an `nng_aio`, and each
`nng_aio` can only be used with a single operation at a time.

> [!IMPORTANT]
> Attempting to submit an operation using an `nng_aio` that is already
> in use for another operation will crash the application.
> However, it is possible to submit another operation on the `nng_aio` from
> the callback associated with the same `nng_aio`.

When the operation is complete, whether successfully
or otherwise, the callback function is executed.
The callback will be executed exactly once.

## Cancellation

The asynchronous I/O framework also supports cancellation of
operations that are already in progress
(see [`nng_aio_cancel()`](nng_aio_cancel.md)), as well setting a maximum
timeout for them to complete within
(see [`nng_aio_set_timeout()`](nng_aio_set_timeout.md)).

## Waiting for Completion

It is also possible to initiate an asynchronous operation, and wait for it to
complete [`nng_aio_wait()`](nng_aio_wait.md).

> [!IMPORTANT]
> Applications must never call [`nng_aio_wait()`](nng_aio_wait.md) or
> [`nng_aio_stop()`](nng_aio_stop.md) from a callback registered to
> an `nng_aio` object. Doing so can lead to a deadlock.

## See Also

[nng_aio_abort](nng_aio_abort.md),
[nng_aio_alloc](nng_aio_alloc.md),
[nng_aio_cancel](nng_aio_cancel.md),
[nng_aio_count](nng_aio_count.md),
[nng_aio_free](nng_aio_free.md),
[nng_aio_get_input](nng_aio_get_input.md),
[nng_aio_get_msg](nng_aio_get_msg.md),
[nng_aio_get_output](nng_aio_get_output.md),
[nng_aio_result](nng_aio_result.md),
[nng_aio_set_input](nng_aio_set_input.md),
[nng_aio_set_iov](nng_aio_set_iov.md),
[nng_aio_set_msg](nng_aio_set_msg.md),
[nng_aio_set_timeout](nng_aio_set_timeout.md),
[nng_aio_stop](nng_aio_stop.md),
[nng_aio_wait](nng_aio_wait.md)