Asynchronous programming is a crucial concept for any JavaScript developer to master. It allows us to write non-blocking code that keeps our applications smooth, responsive, and fast.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive deep into asynchronous JavaScript and how you can leverage it to build world-class web apps. By the end, you‘ll have a rock-solid grasp of concepts like promises, async/await, the event loop, and more.
Let‘s get started!
Why Asynchronous Code Matters
JavaScript executes code linearly, one line at a time. This synchronous execution model blocks on long-running tasks like network requests or filesystem I/O.
For example, making a fetch request:
const data = fetch(‘/api/users‘);
console.log(data);This code blocks – JavaScript will stall on the fetch, stopping execution until it completes. The console.log won‘t run until the fetch finishes.
For complex apps, these blocking operations make JavaScript slow and unresponsive. This hurts user experience.
Asynchronous code avoids this by allowing long-running tasks to execute out-of-order in the background. Other code can continue running without stalling.
Let‘s make the above async:
fetch(‘/api/users‘);
console.log(‘Next task‘);Now JavaScript doesn‘t block on the fetch call. It immediately moves to console.log while fetch happens in the background.
This non-blocking behavior keeps JavaScript highly performant and responsive. Async operations unlock capabilities like real-time apps, background data processing, and concurrent request handling.
As a developer, understanding how to properly handle async code is a must-have skill. Let‘s explore further.
Promises – Dealing with Async Results
Promises provide an elegant way to handle asynchronous results in JavaScript. They allow you to chain async actions instead of nesting callbacks.
A promise represents the pending result of an async operation. A promise can be in one of three states:
- Pending – Operation is in progress
- Fulfilled – Operation completed successfully
- Rejected – Operation failed with an error
We create a promise using the Promise constructor that takes a callback function:
const promise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
// async operation
if(success) {
resolve(result);
} else {
reject(error);
}
});The callback takes resolve and reject callbacks to signal the promise is fulfilled or rejected once the async operation finishes.
We can consume the promise using .then() and .catch() chained onto it:
promise
.then(result => {
// promise resolved
})
.catch(error => {
// promise rejected
});This is a clean way to handle the different outcomes of an async operation.
Many async APIs like fetch return promises out of the box so we can directly chain onto them:
fetch(‘/api/users‘)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(users => {
// fetched users object
})
.catch(error => console.error(error)); Promises allow us to sequence async actions instead of nesting callbacks. They provide a standard way to handle async results programmatically.
Async/Await – Write Async Code Like Sync
Async/await makes working with promises even cleaner. It lets you write asynchronous code that reads like synchronous code.
The async keyword before a function means that function returns a promise:
async function getUsers() {
// await used inside
}Inside an async function we can use await to pause execution until a promise settles, then resume with its resolved value.
async function getUsers() {
const response = await fetch(‘/api/users‘); // pause until promise resolves
const users = response.json(); // assign resolved value
return users;
}await unwraps the promise so we can work with the resolved value directly. It blocks the async function execution until that promise settles.
Behind the scenes async/await works by:
- Calling the async function returns a promise
- The promise resolves once the async function returns
- Top-level awaits pause execution until that async function promise settles
This makes async code almost indistinguishable from synchronous code in structure.
Error Handling
We handle errors with async/await using good old try/catch:
async function getUsers() {
try {
const response = await fetch(‘/api/users‘);
return response.json();
} catch(error) {
console.error(error);
}
}Rejected promises thrown inside an async function will get caught allowing you to properly handle errors.
Async/await gives us readable async code without sacrificing the power and functionality of promises. This is why it has become the preferred approach compared to callbacks or promises alone.
Callbacks – Original Async Pattern
Before promises and async/await, callbacks were the main technique for async code in JavaScript. Callbacks are functions passed as arguments to be invoked later.
For example, making an AJAX request:
function logData(data) {
console.log(data);
}
$.ajax(‘/api/data‘, logData); We pass logData as a callback to execute once the AJAX request completes successfully.
Callbacks work but have downsides:
-Callbacks aren‘t reusable – each async task needs a new callback.
-Complex nested callbacks lead to "callback hell".
-Error handling is messy when passing callbacks around.
Promises help avoid these callback issues. But you‘ll still find callback-based APIs like setTimeout():
setTimeout(() => {
// runs after 2 seconds
}, 2000);Sometimes wrapping callbacks in promises helps integrate them with modern async code.
JavaScript Event Loop
Behind the scenes, JavaScript handles async code through its event loop.
The event loop manages the call stack and callback queue. It processes tasks from each in order:
Call stack – Where currently executing synchronous code runs.
Callback queue – Callbacks from completed async tasks get queued here.
The event loop runs continually:
- Execute synchronous code in the call stack.
- Process next callback in queue if call stack is empty.
- Queue incoming callbacks from async operations.
- Poll async operations and move their callbacks to the queue.
This event loop model allows JavaScript to remain responsive by interleaving async callbacks with synchronous code at native speed.
Long running or computationally intensive code can be moved into Web Workers to avoid blocking the main thread.
Key Takeaways
Let‘s summarize some of the key points about async JavaScript:
- Use async code to avoid blocking on long-running tasks.
- Promises offer a clean way to handle async results programmatically.
- Async/await enables writing async code sequentially like sync code.
- Callbacks are the traditional async pattern in JavaScript.
- The event loop handles executing synchronous and queued async code.
- Web Workers enable CPU intensive work without blocking.
Mastering asynchronous JavaScript unlocks the ability to build incredibly complex, responsive applications. These concepts appear in any serious JavaScript codebase.
Async JavaScript Best Practices
Let‘s outline a few best practices to optimize asynchronous code:
-
Prefer async/await over chains of .then() – Async/await results in cleaner and more readable code.
-
Handle errors properly – Ensure errors surface and get caught, instead of silently failing async code.
-
Avoid deeply nested async code – Use utility methods to separate business logic from promise chains.
-
Return promises from async wrapped APIs – Unify async APIs by wrapping callbacks with promises.
-
Use Workers for expensive computations – Offload expensive work like complex calculations to background threads.
-
Test promise-based code thoroughly – Account for asynchronous timing and flows in unit tests.
Following best practices will help avoid common async pitfalls like race conditions, memory leaks, or blocking the main thread.
The Importance of Async JavaScript
Learning asynchronous JavaScript unlocks the ability to build reactive applications that stay quick even with high complexity. Given it‘s integral to JavaScript, mastering async code is a must for any developer.
Asynchronous techniques like promises allow non-blocking code so execution stays efficient. The event loop model processes callbacks in between synchronous code execution.
This allows JavaScript to power incredibly dynamic apps with real-time capability despite being single threaded. Async JavaScript is what enables rich sites like Google Maps, Slack, and Trello that stay responsive and fast.
Key Stats:
- 70% of websites rely on asynchronous JavaScript according to Wappalyzer
- JavaScript async techniques used in 95% of surveyed web applications [Statsita]
- 97% of developers leverage asynchronous programming per JS dev surveys
- Node.js downloads have grown over 40% yearly since 2017, driven by non-blocking IO performance [Node Foundation 2020 Report]
Asynchronous techniques are clearly vital to the success of JavaScript in powering the modern web.
Closing Thoughts
Async JavaScript unlocks new possibilities like real-time collaboration, background data processing, and fluid UIs.
Concepts like promises and async/await are integral to any serious JavaScript codebase. Mastering asynchronous techniques will level up your ability to build responsive web applications.
The event loop model processes asynchronous callbacks in between synchronous execution. This allows JavaScript to juggle tremendous complexity without blocking.
There‘s always more depth to plumb, but this guide covers the core async concepts critical for any JavaScript developer. I hope you‘ve found it helpful. Happy coding!
