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Callbacks are a fundamental concept in programming, particularly in asynchronous operations. A callback is essentially a function that is passed as an argument to another function. The outer function then calls this inner function at a later time, typically after an operation has completed or an event has occurred. This allows for non-blocking execution, meaning the program can continue with other tasks while waiting for a potentially long-running operation to finish.

The primary use case for callbacks is handling asynchronous events. For example, when fetching data from a network, reading a file, or responding to user interactions like button clicks, these operations take time. Instead of halting the entire program's execution, a callback function can be provided. Once the data is retrieved or the file is read, the callback function is executed, allowing the program to process the result.

This pattern is prevalent in many programming languages and frameworks, including JavaScript, Python, and Node.js. It enables a more responsive and efficient user experience by preventing the application from freezing while waiting for external processes. Without callbacks, asynchronous programming would be significantly more complex, often involving intricate threading models or blocking operations. The callback mechanism provides a straightforward way to manage the flow of control in such scenarios.