How to use await outside of async function prior to ES2022?
Interviewer Expectations for this Question
01
Core Competency
Assesses fundamental understanding of JavaScript conventions, runtime behavior, and memory/performance considerations.
02
Evaluation Criteria
Hiring managers look for precision, avoidance of ambiguous jargon, and ability to explain trade-offs under real production conditions.
Comprehensive Model Answer
Verified Solution
Prior to ES2022, if you attempted to use an await outside of an async function resulted in a SyntaxError.
await Promise.resolve(console.log("Hello await")); // SyntaxError: await is only valid in async function
But you can fix this issue with an alternative IIFE (Immediately Invoked Function Expression) to get access to the feature.
(async function () {
await Promise.resolve(console.log("Hello await")); // Hello await
})();
In ES2022, you can write top-level await without writing any hacks.
await Promise.resolve(console.log("Hello await")); //Hello await
Candidate Response Strategy & Interview Tips
- Start with a concise one-sentence summary: Deliver a direct, confident answer first before expanding into nuances.
- Demonstrate real-world trade-offs: Discuss where this approach excels and when you would avoid it in production systems.
- Discuss complexity & edge cases: Proactively explain time/space complexity or boundary conditions (null values, scale limits).
- Prepare for interviewer follow-ups: Technical hiring panels frequently probe deeper into concurrency, backward compatibility, or alternative libraries.