What is the purpose of the threading module in Python?

The threading module in Python is designed for handling multi-threaded programming. It allows programs to run multiple threads at the same time, enabling concurrent execution of multiple tasks. This module provides methods and classes for creating, managing, and manipulating threads, making multi-threaded programming easier and more efficient.

Specifically, the threading module offers the following functions:

1. Create a thread: You can create a new thread object using the threading.Thread class.
2. Start Thread: You can initiate a thread by calling the start() method of the thread object, causing it to begin execution.
3. Thread synchronization: Provides mechanisms such as mutex locks, semaphores, and condition variables to control the access sequence between threads and the access to shared resources.
4. Inter-thread communication: Provides methods such as Queues for transferring data between multiple threads.
5. Daemon threads: You can set a thread as a daemon thread, so it automatically exits when the main thread ends.
6. Thread pool: The ThreadPoolExecutor class is provided for managing and scheduling the execution of threads in the thread pool.

By using the threading module, it is easier to implement multi-threaded programs for concurrent execution, thus improving program efficiency and performance.