Combine Framework vs Async/Await

Developers should learn Combine when building Apple platform apps that require reactive or asynchronous data flow, such as handling user input, network requests, or real-time UI updates meets developers should learn async/await when working with i/o-bound operations, such as network requests, file system access, or database queries, to avoid blocking the main thread and improve application responsiveness. Here's our take.

Combine Framework

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Combine when building Apple platform apps that require reactive or asynchronous data flow, such as handling user input, network requests, or real-time UI updates

Pros

• It is particularly valuable in SwiftUI-based projects for managing state and binding data to views, and it simplifies complex asynchronous code by replacing traditional patterns like delegates, closures, and NotificationCenter with a unified, composable approach
• Related to: swift, swiftui

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Async/Await

Developers should learn async/await when working with I/O-bound operations, such as network requests, file system access, or database queries, to avoid blocking the main thread and improve application responsiveness

Pros

• It is particularly useful in web development for handling API calls, in server-side applications for managing concurrent tasks, and in any scenario where performance and scalability are critical, as it helps manage complex asynchronous workflows more cleanly than traditional callback or promise-based approaches
• Related to: javascript, promises

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Combine Framework is a framework while Async/Await is a concept. We picked Combine Framework based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Combine Framework wins

Based on overall popularity. Combine Framework is more widely used, but Async/Await excels in its own space.