What is the purpose of the 'async' keyword in JavaScript?

The purpose of the 'async' keyword in JavaScript is to allow a function to return a promise. When you declare a function with the 'async' keyword, it automatically wraps the function's return value in a promise. This means that even if the function returns a non-promise value, it will be converted to a promise that resolves with that value.

Using 'async' allows developers to write code that is easier to read and maintain, especially when dealing with operations that require waiting for something to complete, such as fetching data from an API. Inside an 'async' function, you can use the 'await' keyword to pause the execution until a promise is settled, making asynchronous code look and behave more like synchronous code.

Additionally, this keyword supports error handling more gracefully with try-catch blocks, allowing for a more structured and familiar error management flow. This makes it an essential tool for anyone working with asynchronous operations in JavaScript, enhancing both code clarity and functionality.