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await

The await operator is used to wait for a Promise. It can only be used inside an async function.

Syntax

[rv] = await expression;
expression
A Promise or any value to wait for.
rv

Returns the fulfilled value of the promise, or the value itself if it's not a Promise.

Description

The await expression causes async function execution to pause until a Promise is fulfilled or rejected, and to resume execution of the async function after fulfillment. When resumed, the value of the await expression is that of the fulfilled Promise.

If the Promise is rejected, the await expression throws the rejected value.

If the value of the expression following the await operator is not a Promise, it's converted to a resolved Promise.

Examples

If a Promise is passed to an await expression, it waits for the Promise to be fulfilled and returns the fulfilled value.

function resolveAfter2Seconds(x) { 
  return new Promise(resolve => {
    setTimeout(() => {
      resolve(x);
    }, 2000);
  });
}

async function f1() {
  var x = await resolveAfter2Seconds(10);
  console.log(x); // 10
}
f1();

If the value is not a Promise, it converts the value to a resolved Promise, and waits for it.

async function f2() {
  var y = await 20;
  console.log(y); // 20
}
f2();

If the Promise is rejected, the rejected value is thrown.

async function f3() {
  try {
    var z = await Promise.reject(30);
  } catch(e) {
    console.log(e); // 30
  }
}
f3();

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
ECMAScript Latest Draft (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'async functions' in that specification.
Draft Initial definition in ES2017.

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 55 Yes 52 ? 42 10.1
Feature Android webview Chrome for Android Edge mobile Firefox for Android Opera Android iOS Safari Samsung Internet
Basic support 55 55 Yes 52 42 10.1 ?

See also

© 2005–2018 Mozilla Developer Network and individual contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/await