How to Fix Promise { pending } When Returning Objects with Async Functions in Node.js

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Understanding the Problem

In the scenario we are addressing, we’re trying to authenticate a user based on their phone number and password. After validating the user's credentials, we intend to retrieve their user data and return it in the response. However, instead of getting the expected user object, you receive a promise in a pending state, which indicates that the async operation has not yet completed.

Here's a highlight of the key functionalities we are experiencing:

Twilio API is used to send SMS for OTP verification.

We need to get user credentials based on the phone number from a MongoDB collection.

The result is sometimes a pending promise instead of the user object.

Solution Breakdown

To resolve the pending promise issue, we need to harness the full potential of async/await. Here's a clear step-by-step guide to fixing our function:

Step 1: Convert to an Async Function

Ensure that your main authentication function is declared as async. This allows the use of the await keyword, which helps in dealing with asynchronous data more effectively.

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

Step 2: Validate User Credentials

Check if the provided password is valid. This is usually handled by a separate validation function you've implemented:

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

Step 3: Await the User Data

When fetching the user information, ensure that you await the result of the getUser function. Modify this function as follows:

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

Step 4: Handle the User Retrieval Function

Make sure your getUser function is properly set up to return the user data. Here’s an example of how it should look:

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

Conclusion

By implementing the async/await pattern correctly, you can eliminate the issue of encountering a Promise { pending } state. This ensures a smoother flow of data, allowing you to send back the expected user object after a successful authentication process.

Key Takeaways

Always declare your main function as async when dealing with promises.

Use the await keyword to fetch results of asynchronous calls properly.

Handle errors adequately to maintain a robust application.