"Synchronous events" and "synchronized swimmers" — what is the difference?

Solution 1:

You have the generic definitions of synchronous/synchronized/a synchronous ad not synchronized just fine. The usage in programming systems is not opposite, it is extended from the generic.

Two processes synchronized means they work on the same clock; even if they don't occur at exactly the same time (they very well may), they communicate in an expected manner according to time stamp.

Two asynchronous processes may communicate but they wait for each other, there's no expectation that one must take exactly a given amount of time.

Solution 2:

It has to do with the way the communication from client to server happens. synchronous means "going on at the same time": the client and server are tied up with each other, "synchronously" communicating, but blocking the next bit of code from running.

on the other hand asynchronous communication can happen in the background where the client sets off the communication routine and it just "goes".

the words are used in the same way to describe human communication. telephone and face to face conversation are synchronous methods while asynchronous methods include email, sms, or physical letters.