async/await Is Promise Syntax
An async function always returns a Promise. await pauses the execution of that async function until the awaited Promise settles, but it does not block the JavaScript thread. The rest of the async function becomes a continuation that resumes later.
This distinction is critical: await makes asynchronous code easier to read without turning asynchronous operations into synchronous blocking operations.
Async Function
async function loadUser() {
const response = await fetch('/api/user');
const user = await response.json();
return user;
}
loadUser().then(console.log);💡 The async function returns a Promise. Each await suspends that function's continuation until the awaited operation settles.
Key Takeaways
- Every async function returns a Promise.
awaitpauses the async function, not the entire JavaScript runtime.- Async/await is built around Promise semantics.
Knowledge Check
What does an async function always return?