What is a Web Worker & how does it work ?

A Web Worker is a JavaScript script executed in the background, independent of the main browser thread. It runs in its own thread, separate from the UI thread, enabling concurrent execution of tasks without blocking the user interface.

Syntax

// Creating a new Web Worker
const worker = new Worker('worker.js');

// Sending data to the Web Worker
worker.postMessage({ data: 'Hello from the main thread!' });

// Handling messages from the Web Worker
worker.onmessage = function(event) {
  console.log('Message from Web Worker:', event.data);
};

How Web Workers Work

• Creation: You make a Web Worker by creating a new Worker object in JavaScript and telling it which script to run.
• Execution: The Web Worker runs in the background, separately from the main browser thread. It can do things like calculations or data processing without slowing down the user interface.
• Communication: Web Workers talk to the main thread using postMessage() to send data and onmessage to receive messages. This lets them exchange information back and forth.
• Isolation: Web Workers work in their own little bubble. They can’t access the main thread’s stuff like the DOM or global variables, which keeps everything safe and separate.

Advantages of Web Workers

• Faster Responses: By doing the heavy lifting in the background, Web Workers keep the UI responsive and smooth for users.
• Speed Boost: They make the most out of your computer’s power by running tasks on multiple cores simultaneously, which makes things happen faster.
• Efficient Resource Use: By running in the background, they don’t hog the main thread’s resources, so everything else can keep running smoothly.
• Better User Experience: With Web Workers, there’s no more waiting for the UI to catch up because of big tasks. Everything stays fast and fluid.