When and How to Use Daemon Threads in Python Multithreading?

Daemon Threads: An Interpretation

In Python's multithreading, daemon threads play a crucial role. According to the official documentation, "a thread can be flagged as a 'daemon thread' such that the entire Python program exits when only daemon threads are left."

In simpler terms, daemon threads are meant to assist background tasks, like keeping connections alive, performing regular garbage collection, or other operations that only serve the needs of the main program. Once the main execution (represented by non-daemon threads) completes, these tasks can safely be terminated.

Practical Example:

Imagine you have a Python program with both main threads (handling user input and core functionality) and daemon threads (monitoring database connections). When you close the program (signaling the end of main threads), you don't need to explicitly terminate the daemon threads. By setting them as daemonic, they will automatically end once the main threads finish.

Without daemon threads, you would need to manually track and terminate each background task before exiting the program. By setting daemon threads, you eliminate this responsibility, ensuring a clean and automatic exit.

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