Mastering Async Await In Javascript for Cleaner Code

Asynchronous programming in JavaScript can be tricky, but mastering async/await can dramatically clean up your code. Not only that, but it can also improve performance and make your code easier to read and maintain.

If in doubt always refer to the docs, which are excellent.

Here’s the crux of async/await in as efficient an article as I can make it.

Understanding Async/Await

async functions return a Promise.
await pauses the execution until the Promise resolves.
await only works inside async functions.
This pattern simplifies asynchronous code, making it look synchronous.

Error Handling

Use try...catch blocks within async functions.
This approach helps in handling errors gracefully and keeps code clean.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Be cautious with await in loops; it can lead to performance issues. A good linter or compiler should flag this.
Prefer Promise.all for concurrent tasks to optimize execution time.
Use Promise.allSettled to handle errors gracefully. This method returns an array of results, including errors.

Refactoring Callbacks

Transform traditional callback-based functions into async functions.
This shift enhances readability and maintainability.
Before we had async/await, we had callbacks. Callbacks are functions that are passed as arguments to other functions. They are executed when the parent function completes. Avoid callback hell by using async/await.