Asynchronous operations allow a program to perform tasks without waiting for each one to finish before starting the next. This means that while one task is being processed, the program can continue executing other tasks, improving efficiency and responsiveness. For example, when a web application requests data from a server, it can still respond to user interactions while waiting for the data to arrive. In programming, asynchronous operations are often implemented using techniques like callbacks, promises, or async/await syntax. These methods help manage tasks that take time, such as file I/O or network requests, ensuring that the application remains functional and user-friendly during these delays.