How does the use of coroutines and threads differ in implementing asynchronous tasks?

Threads are system objects that allow multiple tasks to run in parallel, each with its own call stack and execution context. Creating and switching between threads is quite resource-intensive, and a large number of threads can cause overhead.

Coroutines are lightweight components that allow pausing and resuming function execution without creating new threads. They operate within one or multiple threads but enable writing asynchronous code sequentially and managing tasks efficiently without blocking.

Main differences:

• Threads are heavy, coroutines are lightweight.
• Threads require context switching at the OS level, coroutines at the language level.
• Coroutines make writing asynchronous code simpler and more readable.

Example of a coroutine in Kotlin for Android:

GlobalScope.launch(Dispatchers.IO) {
    val data = fetchDataFromNetwork() // asynchronous operation
    withContext(Dispatchers.Main) {
        updateUI(data)
    }
}