Asynchronous for cycle in JavaScript

Question

I need a loop that waits for an async call before continuing. Something like:

for ( /* ... */ ) {

  someFunction(param1, praram2, function(result) {

    //         


        

Answer 1

A promise library based solution:

/*
    Since this is an open question for JS I have used Kris Kowal's Q promises for the same
*/

var Q = require('q');
/*
    Your LOOP body
    @success is a parameter(s) you might pass
*/
var loopBody = function(success) {
    var d = Q.defer(); /* OR use your favorite promise library like $q in angular */
    /*
        'setTimeout' will ideally be your node-like callback with this signature ... (err, data) {}
        as shown, on success you should resolve 
        on failure you should reject (as always ...) 
    */
    setTimeout(function(err, data) {
        if (!err) {
            d.resolve('success');
        } else {
            d.reject('failure');
        }
    }, 100); //100 ms used for illustration only 
    return d.promise;
};

/*
    function to call your loop body 
*/
function loop(itr, fn) {
    var def = Q.defer();
    if (itr <= 0) {
        def.reject({ status: "un-successful " });
    } else {
        var next = loop.bind(undefined, itr - 1, fn); // 'next' is all there is to this 
        var callback = fn.bind(undefined /*, a, b, c.... */ ); // in case you want to pass some parameters into your loop body
        def.promise = callback().then(def.resolve, next);
    }
    return def.promise;
}
/*
    USAGE: loop(iterations, function(){})
    the second argument has to be thenable (in other words return a promise)
    NOTE: this loop will stop when loop body resolves to a success
    Example: Try to upload file 3 times. HURRAY (if successful) or log failed 
*/

loop(4, loopBody).then(function() {
    //success handler
    console.log('HURRAY')
}, function() {
    //failed 
    console.log('failed');
});