How to use threads in Tkinter Python application

In Python, a thread refers to a separate flow of execution within a program. Many tasks can run simultaneously and share the resources of one process. 

Threads are lighter than processes because they share memory and can talk to each other. We use threads to achieve concurrent programming and handle tasks. A program employs them in situations where it needs to perform many tasks. You can make your Python programs work better by using threads. This is true when doing tasks that need input/output or waiting for external events. Assigning these tasks to separate threads will not interrupt the main execution. Python has a threading module. It helps you create and manage threads in your programs. This module lets you create threads, start and stop them, and sync their execution.   

Here are the different types of threads available in Python:   

• Single-Threaded Execution: In this model, a program runs continuously from start to finish. It executes one line of code at a time. Python's default execution model is single-threaded.   
• Threading Module: You can use the Threading Module to make and handle many threads in one process. It offers a high-level interface to work with threads. With the threading module, you can spawn many threads that can execute.   
• Multiprocessing Module: Enables the creation and management of processes instead of threads. Each process runs in a separate memory space, providing true parallelism. The multiprocessing module allows you to leverage many CPU cores.   
• Asynchronous Programming: Python offers asynchronous programming frameworks like asyncio. You can use coroutines, event loops, and non-blocking I/O to write many codes at the same time. Asynchronous programming achieves concurrency without using many threads or processes.   
• Parallel Processing: Python has libraries like concurrent.futures and joblib. They enable parallel processing for intensive tasks. Libraries make it possible to divide tasks among many threads or processes.   

It is a standard interface to the Tk GUI toolkit shipped. The Python standard library makes it easier to work with threads in Python. Instead, this section briefly introduces the look of a Tkinter app. When you use a function in Python, Tkinter creates a structured window for you. Tkinter widgets that only work on the main thread have a small performance penalty. Until now, we have not used slow functions in tkinter programs. But now, we will use the threading module. Thread objects are instances of the Thread class. Each object represents a separate thread activity. Python's built-in Tcl/Tk language has a different threading model than Python. This can cause confusing errors when mixing Python threads with Tkinter. We can import a threading module and subclass its Thread class to use a thread. 

The Python interpreter may link with it, although it is usually a shared library (or DLL). GUI toolkits often access the GUI from one thread, so this recipe works for others too. All offer a toolkit-dependent way to set up periodic polling as this recipe does.   

In any case, a GUI already has several polling mechanisms built into it. So, adding one more will make little difference, especially since it seldom runs. When you click a button, it creates an event. The main loop needs to make the button appear pressed and run our callback. You can call the instance, which will wait for the Tcl/Tk main loop to run. It computes a result and passes it back to the calling thread. We can set them as daemon threads, so they run without us needing to remember them. We kill any daemon threads when we quit our program.   

Here is an example of how to use threads in the Tkinter application:   

Fig: Preview of the output that you will get on running this code from your IDE.

Code

In this solution we are using Tkinter library.

Instructions

Follow the steps carefully to get the output easily.

1. Install PyCharm Community Edition on your computer.
2. Open terminal and install the required libraries with following commands.
3. Install Tkinter - pip install Tkinter.
4. Create a new Python file(eg: test.py).
5. Copy the snippet using the 'copy' button and paste it into that file.
6. Run the file using run button.

I hope you found this useful. I have added the link to dependent libraries, version information in the following sections.

I found this code snippet by searching for 'how to use threading using python tkinter' in kandi. You can try any such use case!

Environment Tested

I tested this solution in the following versions. Be mindful of changes when working with other versions.

1. The solution is created in PyCharm 2022.3.3.
2. The solution is tested on Python 3.9.7.
3. Tkinter version 1.0.7.

Using this solution, we are able to use thread using Tkinter Python with simple steps. This process also facilities an easy way to use, hassle-free method to create a hands-on working version of code which would help us to use thread using Tkinter Python.

Dependent Library

You can also search for any dependent libraries on kandi like 'Tkinter'.

FAQ:   

1. What is the standard Python interface for creating a Tkinter application?   

Importing the Tkinter module and utilizing its classes and functions.   

2. How do you create and use a Python thread in a Tkinter application?   

To start, import the modules you need. Then, define a function for the thread's task. Then start the thread.   

3. Are there any advantages to using many threads in a Tkinter application?   

Yes, depending on the specific requirements and design of your application. Here are a few potential benefits:   

• Responsiveness.   
• Background tasks.   
• Parallel processing.   

4. What role does an event loop play when using threads with a Tkinter application?   

Threads rely on the event loop to handle different events. It is essential for managing them. It updates within the graphical user interface (GUI). Tkinter is a Python library that makes GUI applications. It uses an event-driven programming model.   

The event loop in Tkinter handles monitoring and dispatching events in the application. The program gets events from the operating system, like user input and system events.   

5. How does one call a thread from within another thread of the same Tkinter application?   

To call a thread from another thread in a Tkinter app, use Tkinter's after method. Using the after method, you can schedule a function to call later.  

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