Resolving the Issue of Can't Push Object into Array After MongoDB Query in Node.js

---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Can't push object into the array after running mongodb query

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---

The Problem: Not Able to Push Objects into an Array

In your setup, you designed an Express server that receives product data from a client in JSON format, fetches the product details from a MongoDB database, and then tries to push this information into an array. However, you found that the push operation after your MongoDB query wasn't working. This can be particularly frustrating since you could push a simple string (like "hello") before the database query, but complex objects fail after it.

Example Problematic Code

Here’s an excerpt of your code for context:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Issues with Using forEach

The main issue arises because forEach is not compatible with async/await in the way you might expect. The asynchronous nature of the operations means the loop does not wait for the findProduct promise to resolve before proceeding to the next iteration. This can result in your itemsData array remaining empty as the asynchronous operations are not completed before the function exits.

The Solution: Use Async/Await with for...of Loop

To ensure that your program waits for the database query to resolve before continuing, it’s best to use a for...of loop. This allows you to leverage the power of async/await properly within your loop. Here's the updated code snippet using this approach:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Benefits of This Approach

Proper Async Handling: By using for...of, you can handle asynchronous calls properly, ensuring that each database query completes before making any pushes to your array.

Readability: It also improves the overall readability of your code, making it easier to understand the flow of asynchronous operations.

Error Handling: You can add additional error handling more efficiently with this structure, offering a better user experience.

Conclusion

By switching from forEach to a for...of loop and employing async/await correctly, you can successfully push objects into your array after performing MongoDB queries. This solution should resolve the issue you were encountering, allowing you to populate your itemsData array as intended. Happy coding, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any further questions or concerns!