---
title: "async defer await"
description: "Move `await` operations into the branches where they're actually used to avoid blocking code paths that don't need them."
type: skill
canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/async-defer-await
source: "Claudary"
difficulty: intermediate
author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack"
date: 2026-07-10T11:08:00.169Z
license: CC-BY-4.0
attribution: "async defer await — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/async-defer-await)"
---

# async defer await
Move `await` operations into the branches where they're actually used to avoid blocking code paths that don't need them.

## Overview

---
title: Defer Await Until Needed
impact: HIGH
impactDescription: avoids blocking unused code paths
tags: async, await, conditional, optimization
---

## Defer Await Until Needed

Move `await` operations into the branches where they're actually used to avoid blocking code paths that don't need them.

**Incorrect (blocks both branches):**

```typescript
async function handleRequest(userId: string, skipProcessing: boolean) {
  const userData = await fetchUserData(userId)
  
  if (skipProcessing) {
    // Returns immediately but still waited for userData
    return { skipped: true }
  }
  
  // Only this branch uses userData
  return processUserData(userData)
}
```

**Correct (only blocks when needed):**

```typescript
async function handleRequest(userId: string, skipProcessing: boolean) {
  if (skipProcessing) {
    // Returns immediately without waiting
    return { skipped: true }
  }
  
  // Fetch only when needed
  const userData = await fetchUserData(userId)
  return processUserData(userData)
}
```

**Another example (early return optimization):**

```typescript
// Incorrect: always fetches permissions
async function updateResource(resourceId: string, userId: string) {
  const permissions = await fetchPermissions(userId)
  const resource = await getResource(resourceId)
  
  if (!resource) {
    return { error: 'Not found' }
  }
  
  if (!permissions.canEdit) {
    return { error: 'Forbidden' }
  }
  
  return await updateResourceData(resource, permissions)
}

// Correct: fetches only when needed
async function updateResource(resourceId: string, userId: string) {
  const resource = await getResource(resourceId)
  
  if (!resource) {
    return { error: 'Not found' }
  }
  
  const permissions = await fetchPermissions(userId)
  
  if (!permissions.canEdit) {
    return { error: 'Forbidden' }
  }
  
  return await updateResourceData(resource, permissions)
}
```

This optimization is especially valuable when the skipped branch is frequently taken, or when the deferred operation is expensive.

For `await getFlag()` combined with a cheap synchronous guard (`flag && someCondition`), see [Check Cheap Conditions Before Async Flags](./async-cheap-condition-before-await.md).

---

Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/async-defer-await) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com