async/await in JavaScript

async/await is a modern way in JavaScript to write asynchronous code (like fetching data) that looks and reads like synchronous code, making it easier to understand.

• Functions declared with async always return a Promise.
• await can only be used inside an async function. It pauses execution until the Promise settles (fulfilled or rejected).
• On resolve, await returns the value. On reject, it throws an error (handled with try/catch).
• Internally, it’s syntactic sugar for .then() → still runs in the microtask queue
• Advantage: cleaner async code, less “callback hell” or “.then chaining”.

// Using Promise .then
fetch("https://api.example.com/data")
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log("Data:", data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

// Using async/await
async function getData() {
  try {
    const res = await fetch("https://api.example.com/data");
    const data = await res.json();
    console.log("Data:", data);
  } catch (err) {
    console.error(err);
  }
}

getData();

Think of ordering food delivery:

• With .then → you leave instructions: “when food arrives, do this; if it fails, do that.”
• With async/await → you just wait until the food comes and then continue, like a normal story flow.