co-routine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical (Computer Science)
Quick answer
What does “co-routine” mean?
A function or subroutine that can pause its execution and later resume from the point where it was paused, allowing cooperative multitasking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A function or subroutine that can pause its execution and later resume from the point where it was paused, allowing cooperative multitasking.
A programming concept enabling multiple entry points for suspending and resuming execution, facilitating non-preemptive multitasking and concurrent-appearing behaviour within a single thread.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Both regions use the term identically within the tech industry.
Connotations
None specific to region.
Frequency
Equally rare in general discourse but standard in technical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “co-routine” in a Sentence
The [PROGRAM/PROCESS] uses a co-routine to [ACHIEVE CONCURRENCY].The [LANGUAGE] supports co-routines via the [KEYWORD] keyword.When the co-routine [YIELDS/PAUSES], control returns to the caller.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “co-routine” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The co-routine mechanism is elegantly simple.
- We adopted a co-routine based approach.
American English
- The coroutine implementation is highly efficient.
- We used a coroutine-based design.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in computer science papers and textbooks on programming languages, concurrency, and algorithms.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would only be used by programmers in informal tech talk.
Technical
Core term in software development, especially in languages like Lua, Python (generators/asyncio), and Kotlin.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “co-routine”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “co-routine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “co-routine”
- Misspelling as 'coroutine' (acceptable) or 'co routine'.
- Confusing with a thread (co-routines are cooperative, threads are typically preemptive).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'Let's co-routine this task' – incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern computing texts, 'coroutine' is very common and acceptable. 'Co-routine' is the traditional form.
It enables concurrent-like behaviour without the complexity and overhead of multi-threading, as tasks cooperatively yield control.
Imagine two people reading the same book together, taking turns reading paragraphs aloud. Each can pause (yield) to let the other continue, and later resume from the exact word they stopped on.
Lua has first-class support for co-routines. Python implements them via generators and the 'asyncio' library. Kotlin, C# (async/await), and Go (goroutines, though slightly different) also feature similar concepts.
A function or subroutine that can pause its execution and later resume from the point where it was paused, allowing cooperative multitasking.
Co-routine is usually technical (computer science) in register.
Co-routine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊ ruːˌtiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊ ˌruːˌtiːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To pass the baton (metaphor for yielding between co-routines).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CO-operative ROUTINE: like two chefs (routines) in one kitchen (thread), voluntarily pausing to let the other work instead of being forced to stop.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN FUNCTIONS (where they take turns speaking/yielding).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key characteristic that distinguishes a co-routine from a standard subroutine?