Await is a reserved word error inside async function

If you have encountered the “Await is a reserved word” error while working with JavaScript’s async functions, you are not alone. This error occurs when you try to use the keyword “await” outside of an async function. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons behind this error and discuss two possible solutions.

Understanding the error

The “Await is a reserved word” error is thrown by JavaScript when it encounters the “await” keyword outside of an async function. The “await” keyword is used to pause the execution of an async function until a Promise is resolved, but it can only be used within an async function.

Let’s take a look at an example that triggers this error:


// This code will throw an "Await is a reserved word" error
function fetchData() {
  await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
}

In the above code snippet, the “await” keyword is used outside of an async function, hence causing the error.

Solution 1: Convert the function to an async function

The simplest solution to resolve this error is to convert the function containing the “await” keyword into an async function. By doing so, you can use the “await” keyword within the function without encountering the error.


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

By converting the function to an async function, you can now use the “await” keyword without any issues.

Solution 2: Wrap the code in an immediately invoked async function

If you cannot convert the entire function to an async function, you can wrap the code containing the “await” keyword in an immediately invoked async function. This allows you to use the “await” keyword within the scope of the async function.


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

  fetchData();
})();

In the above code snippet, the code is wrapped in an immediately invoked async function, which creates a scope where the “await” keyword can be used.

Conclusion

The “Await is a reserved word” error occurs when you try to use the “await” keyword outside of an async function. To resolve this error, you can either convert the function to an async function or wrap the code in an immediately invoked async function. By doing so, you can use the “await” keyword without encountering any errors.

Await is a reserved word error inside async function