Understanding setImmediate()
When you want to execute some piece of code asynchronously, but as soon as possible, one option is to use the setImmediate() function provided by Node.js:
function setImmediate<[]>(callback: () => void): NodeJS.Immediate (+1 overload)Schedules the "immediate" execution of the `callback` after I/O events'
callbacks.
When multiple calls to `setImmediate()` are made, the `callback` functions are
queued for execution in the order in which they are created. The entire callback
queue is processed every event loop iteration. If an immediate timer is queued
from inside an executing callback, that timer will not be triggered until the
next event loop iteration.
If `callback` is not a function, a `TypeError` will be thrown.
This method has a custom variant for promises that is available using
`timersPromises.setImmediate()`.setImmediate(() => {
// run something
});
Any function passed as the setImmediate() argument is a callback that's executed in the next iteration of the event loop.
How is setImmediate() different from setTimeout(() => {}, 0) (passing a 0ms timeout), and from process.nextTick() and Promise.then()?
A function passed to process.nextTick() is going to be executed on the current iteration of the event loop, after the current operation ends. This means it will always execute before setTimeout and setImmediate.
A setTimeout() callback with a 0ms delay is very similar to setImmediate(). The execution order will depend on various factors, but they will be both run in the next iteration of the event loop.
A process.nextTick callback is added to process.nextTick queue. A Promise.then() callback is added to promises microtask queue. A setTimeout, setImmediate callback is added to macrotask queue.
Event loop executes tasks in process.nextTick queue first, and then executes promises microtask queue, and then executes macrotask queue.
Here is an example to show the order between setImmediate(), process.nextTick() and Promise.then():
const const baz: () => voidbaz = () => var console: ConsoleThe `console` module provides a simple debugging console that is similar to the
JavaScript console mechanism provided by web browsers.
The module exports two specific components:
* A `Console` class with methods such as `console.log()`, `console.error()` and `console.warn()` that can be used to write to any Node.js stream.
* A global `console` instance configured to write to [`process.stdout`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#processstdout) and
[`process.stderr`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#processstderr). The global `console` can be used without importing the `node:console` module.
_**Warning**_: The global console object's methods are neither consistently
synchronous like the browser APIs they resemble, nor are they consistently
asynchronous like all other Node.js streams. See the [`note on process I/O`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#a-note-on-process-io) for
more information.
Example using the global `console`:
```js
console.log('hello world');
// Prints: hello world, to stdout
console.log('hello %s', 'world');
// Prints: hello world, to stdout
console.error(new Error('Whoops, something bad happened'));
// Prints error message and stack trace to stderr:
// Error: Whoops, something bad happened
// at [eval]:5:15
// at Script.runInThisContext (node:vm:132:18)
// at Object.runInThisContext (node:vm:309:38)
// at node:internal/process/execution:77:19
// at [eval]-wrapper:6:22
// at evalScript (node:internal/process/execution:76:60)
// at node:internal/main/eval_string:23:3
const name = 'Will Robinson';
console.warn(`Danger ${name}! Danger!`);
// Prints: Danger Will Robinson! Danger!, to stderr
```
Example using the `Console` class:
```js
const out = getStreamSomehow();
const err = getStreamSomehow();
const myConsole = new console.Console(out, err);
myConsole.log('hello world');
// Prints: hello world, to out
myConsole.log('hello %s', 'world');
// Prints: hello world, to out
myConsole.error(new Error('Whoops, something bad happened'));
// Prints: [Error: Whoops, something bad happened], to err
const name = 'Will Robinson';
myConsole.warn(`Danger ${name}! Danger!`);
// Prints: Danger Will Robinson! Danger!, to err
```console.Console.log(message?: any, ...optionalParams: any[]): void (+1 overload)Prints to `stdout` with newline. Multiple arguments can be passed, with the
first used as the primary message and all additional used as substitution
values similar to [`printf(3)`](http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/printf.3.html)
(the arguments are all passed to [`util.format()`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/util.html#utilformatformat-args)).
```js
const count = 5;
console.log('count: %d', count);
// Prints: count: 5, to stdout
console.log('count:', count);
// Prints: count: 5, to stdout
```
See [`util.format()`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/util.html#utilformatformat-args) for more information.log('baz');
const const foo: () => voidfoo = () => var console: ConsoleThe `console` module provides a simple debugging console that is similar to the
JavaScript console mechanism provided by web browsers.
The module exports two specific components:
* A `Console` class with methods such as `console.log()`, `console.error()` and `console.warn()` that can be used to write to any Node.js stream.
* A global `console` instance configured to write to [`process.stdout`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#processstdout) and
[`process.stderr`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#processstderr). The global `console` can be used without importing the `node:console` module.
_**Warning**_: The global console object's methods are neither consistently
synchronous like the browser APIs they resemble, nor are they consistently
asynchronous like all other Node.js streams. See the [`note on process I/O`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#a-note-on-process-io) for
more information.
Example using the global `console`:
```js
console.log('hello world');
// Prints: hello world, to stdout
console.log('hello %s', 'world');
// Prints: hello world, to stdout
console.error(new Error('Whoops, something bad happened'));
// Prints error message and stack trace to stderr:
// Error: Whoops, something bad happened
// at [eval]:5:15
// at Script.runInThisContext (node:vm:132:18)
// at Object.runInThisContext (node:vm:309:38)
// at node:internal/process/execution:77:19
// at [eval]-wrapper:6:22
// at evalScript (node:internal/process/execution:76:60)
// at node:internal/main/eval_string:23:3
const name = 'Will Robinson';
console.warn(`Danger ${name}! Danger!`);
// Prints: Danger Will Robinson! Danger!, to stderr
```
Example using the `Console` class:
```js
const out = getStreamSomehow();
const err = getStreamSomehow();
const myConsole = new console.Console(out, err);
myConsole.log('hello world');
// Prints: hello world, to out
myConsole.log('hello %s', 'world');
// Prints: hello world, to out
myConsole.error(new Error('Whoops, something bad happened'));
// Prints: [Error: Whoops, something bad happened], to err
const name = 'Will Robinson';
myConsole.warn(`Danger ${name}! Danger!`);
// Prints: Danger Will Robinson! Danger!, to err
```console.Console.log(message?: any, ...optionalParams: any[]): void (+1 overload)Prints to `stdout` with newline. Multiple arguments can be passed, with the
first used as the primary message and all additional used as substitution
values similar to [`printf(3)`](http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/printf.3.html)
(the arguments are all passed to [`util.format()`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/util.html#utilformatformat-args)).
```js
const count = 5;
console.log('count: %d', count);
// Prints: count: 5, to stdout
console.log('count:', count);
// Prints: count: 5, to stdout
```
See [`util.format()`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/util.html#utilformatformat-args) for more information.log('foo');
const const zoo: () => voidzoo = () => var console: ConsoleThe `console` module provides a simple debugging console that is similar to the
JavaScript console mechanism provided by web browsers.
The module exports two specific components:
* A `Console` class with methods such as `console.log()`, `console.error()` and `console.warn()` that can be used to write to any Node.js stream.
* A global `console` instance configured to write to [`process.stdout`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#processstdout) and
[`process.stderr`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#processstderr). The global `console` can be used without importing the `node:console` module.
_**Warning**_: The global console object's methods are neither consistently
synchronous like the browser APIs they resemble, nor are they consistently
asynchronous like all other Node.js streams. See the [`note on process I/O`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#a-note-on-process-io) for
more information.
Example using the global `console`:
```js
console.log('hello world');
// Prints: hello world, to stdout
console.log('hello %s', 'world');
// Prints: hello world, to stdout
console.error(new Error('Whoops, something bad happened'));
// Prints error message and stack trace to stderr:
// Error: Whoops, something bad happened
// at [eval]:5:15
// at Script.runInThisContext (node:vm:132:18)
// at Object.runInThisContext (node:vm:309:38)
// at node:internal/process/execution:77:19
// at [eval]-wrapper:6:22
// at evalScript (node:internal/process/execution:76:60)
// at node:internal/main/eval_string:23:3
const name = 'Will Robinson';
console.warn(`Danger ${name}! Danger!`);
// Prints: Danger Will Robinson! Danger!, to stderr
```
Example using the `Console` class:
```js
const out = getStreamSomehow();
const err = getStreamSomehow();
const myConsole = new console.Console(out, err);
myConsole.log('hello world');
// Prints: hello world, to out
myConsole.log('hello %s', 'world');
// Prints: hello world, to out
myConsole.error(new Error('Whoops, something bad happened'));
// Prints: [Error: Whoops, something bad happened], to err
const name = 'Will Robinson';
myConsole.warn(`Danger ${name}! Danger!`);
// Prints: Danger Will Robinson! Danger!, to err
```console.Console.log(message?: any, ...optionalParams: any[]): void (+1 overload)Prints to `stdout` with newline. Multiple arguments can be passed, with the
first used as the primary message and all additional used as substitution
values similar to [`printf(3)`](http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/printf.3.html)
(the arguments are all passed to [`util.format()`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/util.html#utilformatformat-args)).
```js
const count = 5;
console.log('count: %d', count);
// Prints: count: 5, to stdout
console.log('count:', count);
// Prints: count: 5, to stdout
```
See [`util.format()`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/util.html#utilformatformat-args) for more information.log('zoo');
const const start: () => voidstart = () => {
var console: ConsoleThe `console` module provides a simple debugging console that is similar to the
JavaScript console mechanism provided by web browsers.
The module exports two specific components:
* A `Console` class with methods such as `console.log()`, `console.error()` and `console.warn()` that can be used to write to any Node.js stream.
* A global `console` instance configured to write to [`process.stdout`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#processstdout) and
[`process.stderr`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#processstderr). The global `console` can be used without importing the `node:console` module.
_**Warning**_: The global console object's methods are neither consistently
synchronous like the browser APIs they resemble, nor are they consistently
asynchronous like all other Node.js streams. See the [`note on process I/O`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#a-note-on-process-io) for
more information.
Example using the global `console`:
```js
console.log('hello world');
// Prints: hello world, to stdout
console.log('hello %s', 'world');
// Prints: hello world, to stdout
console.error(new Error('Whoops, something bad happened'));
// Prints error message and stack trace to stderr:
// Error: Whoops, something bad happened
// at [eval]:5:15
// at Script.runInThisContext (node:vm:132:18)
// at Object.runInThisContext (node:vm:309:38)
// at node:internal/process/execution:77:19
// at [eval]-wrapper:6:22
// at evalScript (node:internal/process/execution:76:60)
// at node:internal/main/eval_string:23:3
const name = 'Will Robinson';
console.warn(`Danger ${name}! Danger!`);
// Prints: Danger Will Robinson! Danger!, to stderr
```
Example using the `Console` class:
```js
const out = getStreamSomehow();
const err = getStreamSomehow();
const myConsole = new console.Console(out, err);
myConsole.log('hello world');
// Prints: hello world, to out
myConsole.log('hello %s', 'world');
// Prints: hello world, to out
myConsole.error(new Error('Whoops, something bad happened'));
// Prints: [Error: Whoops, something bad happened], to err
const name = 'Will Robinson';
myConsole.warn(`Danger ${name}! Danger!`);
// Prints: Danger Will Robinson! Danger!, to err
```console.Console.log(message?: any, ...optionalParams: any[]): void (+1 overload)Prints to `stdout` with newline. Multiple arguments can be passed, with the
first used as the primary message and all additional used as substitution
values similar to [`printf(3)`](http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/printf.3.html)
(the arguments are all passed to [`util.format()`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/util.html#utilformatformat-args)).
```js
const count = 5;
console.log('count: %d', count);
// Prints: count: 5, to stdout
console.log('count:', count);
// Prints: count: 5, to stdout
```
See [`util.format()`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/util.html#utilformatformat-args) for more information.log('start');
function setImmediate<[]>(callback: () => void): NodeJS.Immediate (+1 overload)Schedules the "immediate" execution of the `callback` after I/O events'
callbacks.
When multiple calls to `setImmediate()` are made, the `callback` functions are
queued for execution in the order in which they are created. The entire callback
queue is processed every event loop iteration. If an immediate timer is queued
from inside an executing callback, that timer will not be triggered until the
next event loop iteration.
If `callback` is not a function, a `TypeError` will be thrown.
This method has a custom variant for promises that is available using
`timersPromises.setImmediate()`.setImmediate(const baz: () => voidbaz);
new var Promise: PromiseConstructor
new <any>(executor: (resolve: (value: any) => void, reject: (reason?: any) => void) => void) => Promise<any>
resolve: (value: any) => voidresolve, reject: (reason?: any) => voidreject) => {
resolve: (value: any) => voidresolve('bar');
}).Promise<any>.then<void, never>(onfulfilled?: ((value: any) => void | PromiseLike<void>) | null | undefined, onrejected?: ((reason: any) => PromiseLike<never>) | null | undefined): Promise<...>Attaches callbacks for the resolution and/or rejection of the Promise.then(resolve: anyresolve => {
var console: ConsoleThe `console` module provides a simple debugging console that is similar to the
JavaScript console mechanism provided by web browsers.
The module exports two specific components:
* A `Console` class with methods such as `console.log()`, `console.error()` and `console.warn()` that can be used to write to any Node.js stream.
* A global `console` instance configured to write to [`process.stdout`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#processstdout) and
[`process.stderr`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#processstderr). The global `console` can be used without importing the `node:console` module.
_**Warning**_: The global console object's methods are neither consistently
synchronous like the browser APIs they resemble, nor are they consistently
asynchronous like all other Node.js streams. See the [`note on process I/O`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/process.html#a-note-on-process-io) for
more information.
Example using the global `console`:
```js
console.log('hello world');
// Prints: hello world, to stdout
console.log('hello %s', 'world');
// Prints: hello world, to stdout
console.error(new Error('Whoops, something bad happened'));
// Prints error message and stack trace to stderr:
// Error: Whoops, something bad happened
// at [eval]:5:15
// at Script.runInThisContext (node:vm:132:18)
// at Object.runInThisContext (node:vm:309:38)
// at node:internal/process/execution:77:19
// at [eval]-wrapper:6:22
// at evalScript (node:internal/process/execution:76:60)
// at node:internal/main/eval_string:23:3
const name = 'Will Robinson';
console.warn(`Danger ${name}! Danger!`);
// Prints: Danger Will Robinson! Danger!, to stderr
```
Example using the `Console` class:
```js
const out = getStreamSomehow();
const err = getStreamSomehow();
const myConsole = new console.Console(out, err);
myConsole.log('hello world');
// Prints: hello world, to out
myConsole.log('hello %s', 'world');
// Prints: hello world, to out
myConsole.error(new Error('Whoops, something bad happened'));
// Prints: [Error: Whoops, something bad happened], to err
const name = 'Will Robinson';
myConsole.warn(`Danger ${name}! Danger!`);
// Prints: Danger Will Robinson! Danger!, to err
```console.Console.log(message?: any, ...optionalParams: any[]): void (+1 overload)Prints to `stdout` with newline. Multiple arguments can be passed, with the
first used as the primary message and all additional used as substitution
values similar to [`printf(3)`](http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/printf.3.html)
(the arguments are all passed to [`util.format()`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/util.html#utilformatformat-args)).
```js
const count = 5;
console.log('count: %d', count);
// Prints: count: 5, to stdout
console.log('count:', count);
// Prints: count: 5, to stdout
```
See [`util.format()`](https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v22.x/api/util.html#utilformatformat-args) for more information.log(resolve: anyresolve);
var process: NodeJS.Processprocess.NodeJS.Process.nextTick(callback: Function, ...args: any[]): void`process.nextTick()` adds `callback` to the "next tick queue". This queue is
fully drained after the current operation on the JavaScript stack runs to
completion and before the event loop is allowed to continue. It's possible to
create an infinite loop if one were to recursively call `process.nextTick()`.
See the [Event Loop](https://nodejs.org/en/docs/guides/event-loop-timers-and-nexttick/#process-nexttick) guide for more background.
```js
import { nextTick } from 'node:process';
console.log('start');
nextTick(() => {
console.log('nextTick callback');
});
console.log('scheduled');
// Output:
// start
// scheduled
// nextTick callback
```
This is important when developing APIs in order to give users the opportunity
to assign event handlers _after_ an object has been constructed but before any
I/O has occurred:
```js
import { nextTick } from 'node:process';
function MyThing(options) {
this.setupOptions(options);
nextTick(() => {
this.startDoingStuff();
});
}
const thing = new MyThing();
thing.getReadyForStuff();
// thing.startDoingStuff() gets called now, not before.
```
It is very important for APIs to be either 100% synchronous or 100%
asynchronous. Consider this example:
```js
// WARNING! DO NOT USE! BAD UNSAFE HAZARD!
function maybeSync(arg, cb) {
if (arg) {
cb();
return;
}
fs.stat('file', cb);
}
```
This API is hazardous because in the following case:
```js
const maybeTrue = Math.random() > 0.5;
maybeSync(maybeTrue, () => {
foo();
});
bar();
```
It is not clear whether `foo()` or `bar()` will be called first.
The following approach is much better:
```js
import { nextTick } from 'node:process';
function definitelyAsync(arg, cb) {
if (arg) {
nextTick(cb);
return;
}
fs.stat('file', cb);
}
```nextTick(const zoo: () => voidzoo);
});
var process: NodeJS.Processprocess.NodeJS.Process.nextTick(callback: Function, ...args: any[]): void`process.nextTick()` adds `callback` to the "next tick queue". This queue is
fully drained after the current operation on the JavaScript stack runs to
completion and before the event loop is allowed to continue. It's possible to
create an infinite loop if one were to recursively call `process.nextTick()`.
See the [Event Loop](https://nodejs.org/en/docs/guides/event-loop-timers-and-nexttick/#process-nexttick) guide for more background.
```js
import { nextTick } from 'node:process';
console.log('start');
nextTick(() => {
console.log('nextTick callback');
});
console.log('scheduled');
// Output:
// start
// scheduled
// nextTick callback
```
This is important when developing APIs in order to give users the opportunity
to assign event handlers _after_ an object has been constructed but before any
I/O has occurred:
```js
import { nextTick } from 'node:process';
function MyThing(options) {
this.setupOptions(options);
nextTick(() => {
this.startDoingStuff();
});
}
const thing = new MyThing();
thing.getReadyForStuff();
// thing.startDoingStuff() gets called now, not before.
```
It is very important for APIs to be either 100% synchronous or 100%
asynchronous. Consider this example:
```js
// WARNING! DO NOT USE! BAD UNSAFE HAZARD!
function maybeSync(arg, cb) {
if (arg) {
cb();
return;
}
fs.stat('file', cb);
}
```
This API is hazardous because in the following case:
```js
const maybeTrue = Math.random() > 0.5;
maybeSync(maybeTrue, () => {
foo();
});
bar();
```
It is not clear whether `foo()` or `bar()` will be called first.
The following approach is much better:
```js
import { nextTick } from 'node:process';
function definitelyAsync(arg, cb) {
if (arg) {
nextTick(cb);
return;
}
fs.stat('file', cb);
}
```nextTick(const foo: () => voidfoo);
};
const start: () => voidstart();
// start foo bar zoo baz
This code will first call start(), then call foo() in process.nextTick queue. After that, it will handle promises microtask queue, which prints bar and adds zoo() in process.nextTick queue at the same time. Then it will call zoo() which has just been added. In the end, the baz() in macrotask queue is called.
The principle aforementioned holds true in CommonJS cases, but keep in mind in ES Modules, e.g. mjs files, the execution order will be different:
// start bar foo zoo baz
This is because the ES Module being loaded is wrapped as an asynchronous operation, and thus the entire script is actually already in the promises microtask queue. So when the promise is immediately resolved, its callback is appended to the microtask queue. Node.js will attempt to clear the queue until moving to any other queue, and hence you will see it outputs bar first.