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Difference Between Return Await Promise And Return Promise

When writing code, understanding the nuances of different keywords and syntax structures can greatly impact how your program behaves. In the world of JavaScript programming, two commonly used concepts are `return await promise` and `return promise`. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are important distinctions between the two that can affect the flow and functionality of your code.

Let's break it down step by step:

### `return Await Promise`

When you use `return await promise` in your JavaScript code, you are essentially asking the program to pause execution at that point until the promise is resolved. This is particularly useful when you have asynchronous operations that need to be completed before proceeding further. By using `await`, you ensure that the next line of code is only executed once the promise has been fulfilled.

Here's a simple example to illustrate this:

Javascript

async function fetchData() {
    let data = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
    return data.json();
}

fetchData().then(result => {
    console.log(result);
});

In this code snippet, `await` is used to pause the `fetch` operation until the data is successfully retrieved from the API endpoint. This way, you can wait for the data to be available before moving on to the next step.

### `return Promise`

On the other hand, using just `return promise` without the `await` keyword handles promises differently. When you return a promise directly without awaiting it, the function will not wait for the resolution of the promise. Instead, it will continue execution and return the promise itself.

Here's a brief example to demonstrate this concept:

Javascript

function delay(time) {
    return new Promise((resolve) => {
        setTimeout(resolve, time);
    });
}

function testDelay() {
    return delay(2000);
}

testDelay().then(() => {
    console.log('2 seconds have passed.');
});

In this snippet, the `delay` function returns a promise that resolves after the specified time. In the `testDelay` function, we return the promise returned by `delay(2000)` without using `await`. As a result, the `console.log` statement is executed immediately, without waiting for the 2-second delay to complete.

### Key Differences

The crucial difference between `return await promise` and `return promise` lies in how they handle the asynchronous nature of promises. Using `await` ensures that your code waits for the promise to be resolved, while returning the promise directly allows the program to continue executing without waiting for the promise to complete.

When deciding between the two, consider the behavior you want in your code. If you need to pause execution until the promise resolves, `return await promise` is the way to go. If you want to return the promise immediately and handle the resolution later, `return promise` is more appropriate.

Understanding these distinctions can help you write more efficient and reliable JavaScript code. Remember to choose the approach that best fits the requirements of your specific application. Happy coding!