seniorRust
How does async/await work in Rust internally?
Updated May 24, 2026
Short answer
async/await in Rust compiles into state machines implementing the Future trait.
Deep explanation
Each async function is transformed into a state machine by the compiler. The Future trait defines poll(), which is repeatedly called by an executor. The function pauses at .await points and resumes later. No hidden runtime exists; executors like Tokio schedule tasks cooperatively.
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