For example, a Ruby script that sends an HTTP GET request. Whilst waiting/receiving the response, is that process using CPU or RAM resources?
If the response takes 500ms, does that mean thats 500ms CPU/RAM is taken and cannot be used? Or does the process go into a kind of "sleep" state until the request is received, freeing up resources in the mean time?
It doesn't consume your CPU but it will not free the memory that is already allocated. It will just wait (sleep) till the data is available.