REFERENCEjavascript

javascript Documentation

📖 INDEX

# what-is-javascript

# function-declaration

# function-expressions

# anonymous-functions

# arrow-functions

# return

# recursive-functions

# arguments-parameters

# array-destructuring

# what-is-dom

# element-selection

# selection-methods

# elements-manipulation

# events

# event-listeners

# modification-methods

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Async Error Handling

AI & DATA SCIENCE // async-error

Handle async errors with try/catch around await, or .catch() on Promises. Unhandled rejections crash Node.js and warn in browsers.

Syntax

async function fn() {
  try {
    await riskyOperation();
  } catch (e) {
    handleError(e);
  }
}

Deep Dive Course

Async errors that aren't caught become **unhandled Promise rejections**. In Node.js 15+, unhandled rejections crash the process. In browsers, they trigger a `unhandledrejection` event. Always handle async errors with try/catch in async functions or `.catch()` on raw Promises.

1Understanding Async Error Handling

Async errors that aren't caught become unhandled Promise rejections. In Node.js 15+, unhandled rejections crash the process. In browsers, they trigger a unhandledrejection event. Always handle async errors with try/catch in async functions or .catch() on raw Promises.

💡

Add a global unhandledrejection listener as a safety net: window.addEventListener('unhandledrejection', handler).

editor.html

// Different ways to handle async errors

// 1. try/catch with await
async function loadUser(id) {
  try {
    const user = await fetchUser(id);
    return user;
  } catch (e) {
    if (e.status === 404) return null; // handle 404
    throw e; // re-throw other errors
  }
}

// 2. .catch() on Promise
fetchUser(id)
  .then(showUser)
  .catch(e => { if (e.status !== 404) throw e; });

localhost:3000

2Practical Example

Here is a real-world application of Async Error Handling showing how it is used in production JavaScript code.

editor.html

// Global unhandled rejection handler (safety net)
window.addEventListener('unhandledrejection', event => {
  console.error('Unhandled:', event.promise, event.reason);
  event.preventDefault(); // prevent console error
});

// Node.js equivalent
process.on('unhandledRejection', (reason, promise) => {
  console.error('Unhandled rejection:', reason);
});

localhost:3000

3Best Practices

Follow these guidelines when working with Async Error Handling:

1. Wrap await calls in try/catch

2. Add .catch() to all raw Promise chains

3. Add a global unhandledrejection handler as fallback

⚠️

Tip: Add a global unhandledrejection listener as a safety net: window.addEventListener('unhandledrejection', handler).

editor.html

// Different ways to handle async errors

// 1. try/catch with await
async function loadUser(id) {
  try {
    const user = await fetchUser(id);
    return user;
  } catch (e) {
    if (e.status === 404) return null; // handle 404
    throw e; // re-throw other errors
  }
}

// 2. .catch() on Promise
fetchUser(id)
  .then(showUser)
  .catch(e => { if (e.status !== 404) throw e; });

localhost:3000

Examples

Example 01Basic Usage

// Different ways to handle async errors

// 1. try/catch with await
async function loadUser(id) {
  try {
    const user = await fetchUser(id);
    return user;
  } catch (e) {
    if (e.status === 404) return null; // handle 404
    throw e; // re-throw other errors
  }
}

// 2. .catch() on Promise
fetchUser(id)
  .then(showUser)
  .catch(e => { if (e.status !== 404) throw e; });

Example 02Advanced Example

// Global unhandled rejection handler (safety net)
window.addEventListener('unhandledrejection', event => {
  console.error('Unhandled:', event.promise, event.reason);
  event.preventDefault(); // prevent console error
});

// Node.js equivalent
process.on('unhandledRejection', (reason, promise) => {
  console.error('Unhandled rejection:', reason);
});

Best Practices

Wrap await calls in try/catch
Add .catch() to all raw Promise chains
Add a global unhandledrejection handler as fallback

Interview Question

What is an unhandled Promise rejection?▼

Hint: A Promise that rejects with no .catch().

An unhandled Promise rejection occurs when a Promise rejects and there's no .catch() handler or try/catch in an async function to handle it. In Node.js 15+, this crashes the process. In browsers, it triggers the 'unhandledrejection' window event. Always ensure every Promise chain has error handling.

Exercises

MediumPractice using Async Error Handling in a real scenario.

View Solution

// Different ways to handle async errors

// 1. try/catch with await
async function loadUser(id) {
  try {
    const user = await fetchUser(id);
    return user;
  } catch (e) {
    if (e.status === 404) return null; // handle 404
    throw e; // re-throw other errors
  }
}

// 2. .catch() on Promise
fetchUser(id)
  .then(showUser)
  .catch(e => { if (e.status !== 404) throw e; });

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an unhandled Promise rejection?▼

Related Functions

Promisesawaittrycatchcatch

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