The default scope of a coroutine in Kotlin depends on how it is launched. When you launch a coroutine without specifying a scope explicitly, it defaults to the scope of the current coroutine context or the context of the parent coroutine if it exists. This default behavior helps ensure that coroutines are launched within a structured concurrency model, preventing resource leaks and simplifying coroutine management.
If you’re working within a structured concurrency framework like CoroutineScope, coroutines launched within that scope inherit the scope of the parent coroutine. This ensures that coroutines are cancelled when the parent coroutine is cancelled, promoting predictable and reliable coroutine execution.
However, if you launch a coroutine using the GlobalScope or runBlocking coroutine builders, the coroutine is launched with a global scope or a scope that blocks the current thread, respectively. It’s generally recommended to avoid using GlobalScope for coroutine launch unless absolutely necessary, as it can lead to unbounded concurrency and potential resource leaks.
Understanding the default scope of coroutines is essential for managing coroutine lifecycles and preventing unintended side effects in concurrent programming.
