JavaScript Promises
"I Promise a Result!"
"Producing code" is code that can take some time
"Consuming code" is code that must wait for the result
A Promise is an Object that links Producing code and Consuming code
JavaScript Promise Object
A Promise contains both the producing code and calls to the consuming code:
Promise Syntax
let myPromise = new Promise(function(myResolve, myReject) {
// "Producing Code" (May take some time)
myResolve(); // when successful
myReject(); // when error
});
// "Consuming Code" (Must wait for a fulfilled Promise)
myPromise.then(
function(value) { /* code if successful */ },
function(error) { /* code if some error */ }
);
When the producing code obtains the result, it should call one of the two callbacks:
| When | Call |
|---|---|
| Success | myResolve(result value) |
| Error | myReject(error object) |
Promise Object Properties
A JavaScript Promise object can be:
- Pending
- Fulfilled
- Rejected
The Promise object supports two properties: state and result.
While a Promise object is "pending" (working), the result is undefined.
When a Promise object is "fulfilled", the result is a value.
When a Promise object is "rejected", the result is an error object.
| myPromise.state | myPromise.result |
|---|---|
| "pending" | undefined |
| "fulfilled" | a result value |
| "rejected" | an error object |
You cannot access the Promise properties state and result.
You must use a Promise method to handle promises.
Promise How To
Here is how to use a Promise:
myPromise.then(
function(value) { /* code if successful */ },
function(error) { /* code if some error */ }
);
Promise.then() takes two arguments, a callback for success and another for failure.
Both are optional, so you can add a callback for success or failure only.
Example
function myDisplayer(some) {
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = some;
}
let myPromise = new Promise(function(myResolve, myReject) {
let x = 0;
// The producing code (this may take some time)
if (x == 0) {
myResolve("OK");
} else {
myReject("Error");
}
});
myPromise.then(
function(value) {myDisplayer(value);},
function(error) {myDisplayer(error);}
);
JavaScript Promise Examples
To demonstrate the use of promises, we will use the callback examples from the previous chapter:
- Waiting for a Timeout
- Waiting for a File
Waiting for a Timeout
Example Using Callback
setTimeout(function() { myFunction("I love You !!!"); }, 3000);
function myFunction(value) {
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = value;
}
Example Using Promise
let myPromise = new Promise(function(myResolve, myReject) {
setTimeout(function() { myResolve("I love You !!"); }, 3000);
});
myPromise.then(function(value) {
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = value;
});
Waiting for a file
Example using Callback
function getFile(myCallback) {
let req = new XMLHttpRequest();
req.open('GET', "mycar.html");
req.onload = function() {
if (req.status == 200) {
myCallback(req.responseText);
} else {
myCallback("Error: " + req.status);
}
}
req.send();
}
getFile(myDisplayer);
Example using Promise
let myPromise = new Promise(function(myResolve, myReject) {
let req = new XMLHttpRequest();
req.open('GET', "mycar.htm");
req.onload = function() {
if (req.status == 200) {
myResolve(req.response);
} else {
myReject("File not Found");
}
};
req.send();
});
myPromise.then(
function(value) {myDisplayer(value);},
function(error) {myDisplayer(error);}
);
Browser Support
ECMAScript 2015, also known as ES6, introduced the JavaScript Promise object.
The following table defines the first browser version with full support for Promise objects:
| Chrome 33 | Edge 12 | Firefox 29 | Safari 7.1 | Opera 20 |
| Feb, 2014 | Jul, 2015 | Apr, 2014 | Sep, 2014 | Mar, 2014 |