Making an async task

Hi. I am making a plugin which requires talking to a database. I understand that when I am querying that database, it should be in an async task, but I have never worked with them before. So my questions are:
1. What is an async task?
2. How do I use one?
3. Are there any disadvantages to using one?
4. Are there any alternatives?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

1. An async task is a task or operation that runs in a thread separate from the main server thread. It allows you to perform slow and long operations without halting the server.

2. You can make an async task by scheduling one with the Bukkit scheduler or a bukkit runnable.

3. Disadvantages are that you cannot use all of the bukkit api asynchronously without causing issues. You can however schedule a sync task from within an async task.

4. An Alternative is creating a new thread manually and running it. Same advantages and disadvantages apply.

 

Rocoty Ok thanks, is how to make one on the wiki?

 

That I don't know. But there are definitely tutorials on scheduling tasks around here on the forums and elsewhere

 

Rocoty Ok thanks alot.