When working within an async function, it is important to maintain consistency with the asynchronous programming model. If a context manager
implements the asynchronous context manager protocol (defining __aenter__
and __aexit__
methods), it should be used with the
async with
statement rather than the regular with
statement.
The asynchronous context manager protocol is specifically designed to handle resources that may require asynchronous setup or teardown operations.
Using the regular with
statement in an async context bypasses this intended asynchronous behavior.
What is the potential impact?
Not following the proper async pattern can lead to:
- Inconsistent async usage: Mixing synchronous and asynchronous patterns reduces code clarity
- Missed async opportunities: Asynchronous setup and cleanup operations may not be utilized
- Maintenance issues: Future developers may not understand the intended async behavior