pxt-calliope/docs/reference/control/in-background.md
2016-03-25 21:13:09 -07:00

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# In Background
Run code in the background as a separate process or thread; for more information on this advanced construct, see [the micro:bit - a reactive system](/microbit/device/reactive).
```sig
control.inBackground(() => {
})
```
### Example
The example below shows how a background process can be used to display the current value of the global variable `num`, while code (like the `on button pressed` handler) can change the value of the variable.
```blocks
let num = 0
control.inBackground(() => {
while (true) {
basic.showNumber(num, 150)
basic.pause(100)
}
})
input.onButtonPressed("A", () => {
num++;
})
```
The code below using the `forever` loop is equivalent to the code above
```blocks
let num = 0
basic.forever(() => {
basic.showNumber(num, 150)
})
input.onButtonPressed("A", () => {
num++;
})
```
### Contention for the LED display
If you have multiple processes that each show something on the LED screen, you may get unexpected results. Try, for example:
```blocks
basic.forever(() => {
basic.showNumber(6789, 150)
})
input.onButtonPressed("A", () => {
basic.showNumber(2, 150)
})
```
### See also
[while](/microbit/reference/loops/while), [forever](/microbit/reference/basic/forever), [on button pressed](/microbit/reference/input/on-button-pressed)