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Understanding Generators in JavaScript

Generators in JavaScript are special functions that allow pausing and resuming execution, enabling efficient handling of asynchronous operations and complex iterations. They are defined using the function* syntax and utilize the yield keyword to control execution flow. Generators offer benefits such as lazy evaluation, improved asynchronous flow, and the ability to create infinite sequences without high memory consumption.

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14 views

Understanding Generators in JavaScript

Generators in JavaScript are special functions that allow pausing and resuming execution, enabling efficient handling of asynchronous operations and complex iterations. They are defined using the function* syntax and utilize the yield keyword to control execution flow. Generators offer benefits such as lazy evaluation, improved asynchronous flow, and the ability to create infinite sequences without high memory consumption.

Uploaded by

fnandalr
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Understanding Generators in JavaScript

Introduction to Generators

Generators are a special type of function in JavaScript that allows you to pause and resume execution. They provide a powerful way to work
with asynchronous operations, lazy evaluation, and complex iteration patterns.

Defining a Generator

A generator function is defined using the function* syntax. Unlike regular functions, they return an iterator that can be used to control execution.

function* myGenerator() {
yield 'First value';
yield 'Second value';
yield 'Third value';
}

const gen = myGenerator();


console.log(gen.next()); // { value: 'First value', done: false }
console.log(gen.next()); // { value: 'Second value', done: false }
console.log(gen.next()); // { value: 'Third value', done: false }
console.log(gen.next()); // { value: undefined, done: true }

The yield Keyword

The yield keyword is used to pause execution and return a value. When next() is called on the generator, execution resumes from where it was
last paused.
Benefits of Generators
1. Lazy Evaluation: Generators execute code only when needed, improving performance for large datasets.
2. Asynchronous Flow: They can be combined with async/await to manage asynchronous operations more effectively.
3. Infinite Sequences: Generators allow for creating infinite data streams without consuming excessive memory.

Example: Infinite Sequence Generator


function* infiniteCounter() {
let i = 1;
while (true) {
yield i++;
}
}

const counter = infiniteCounter();


console.log(counter.next().value); // 1
console.log(counter.next().value); // 2
console.log(counter.next().value); // 3

Combining Generators with Async Operations

Generators work well with Promises to create readable asynchronous flows.

function* asyncGenerator() {
console.log('Start');
yield new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(() => resolve('Data loaded'), 2000));
console.log('End');
}

const asyncGen = asyncGenerator();


asyncGen.next().value.then(console.log); // Logs "Data loaded" after 2 seconds

Conclusion

Generators provide a flexible way to handle iteration, asynchronous processes, and complex logic in JavaScript. Understanding how to use
them effectively can greatly enhance code efficiency and readability.

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