What are the differences between JavaScript promises and async/await?

What are the differences between JavaScript promises and async/await?

Promises are objects that represent the eventual completion or failure of an asynchronous operation, while async/await is syntactic sugar built on top of promises that allows for a more synchronous-looking code structure.

Can you give me an example of how to use both?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

Using Promises:

function fetchData() {
  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    setTimeout(() => resolve('Data fetched!'), 1000);
  });
}

fetchData().then(data => console.log(data));

Using async/await:

async function fetchData() {
  const data = await new Promise((resolve) => {
    setTimeout(() => resolve('Data fetched!'), 1000);
  });
  console.log(data);
}

fetchData();

What are the advantages of using async/await over promises?

Async/await makes the code easier to read and write, especially when dealing with multiple asynchronous operations. It allows you to write asynchronous code that looks synchronous, reducing the complexity of chaining multiple .then() calls.

Are there any downsides to using async/await?

Yes, one downside is that if an error occurs in an async function, it can be harder to handle compared to promises. You need to use try/catch blocks to manage errors effectively.