Any difference between await Promise.all() and multiple await?

Question

Is there any difference between:

const [result1, result2] = await Promise.all([task1(), task2()]);

and

const t1 = task1();
const t2 = task2();

const result1 = await t1;
const result2 = await t2;

and

const [t1, t2] = [task1(), task2()];
const [result1, result2] = [await t1, await t2];

Answer 1

Note: this answer just covers the timing differences between await in series and Promise.all. Be sure to read @mikep's comprehensive answer that also covers the more important differences in error handling.

---

For the purposes of this answer I will be using some example methods:

• res(ms) is a function that takes an integer of milliseconds and returns a promise that resolves after that many milliseconds.
• rej(ms) is a function that takes an integer of milliseconds and returns a promise that rejects after that many milliseconds.

Calling res starts the timer. Using Promise.all to wait for a handful of delays will resolve after all the delays have finished, but remember they execute at the same time:

_{Example #1}

const data = await Promise.all([res(3000), res(2000), res(1000)])
//                              ^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^
//                               delay 1    delay 2    delay 3
//
// ms ------1---------2---------3
// =============================O delay 1
// ===================O           delay 2
// =========O                     delay 3
//
// =============================O Promise.all

async function example() {
  const start = Date.now()
  let i = 0
  function res(n) {
    const id = ++i
    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
      setTimeout(() => {
        resolve()
        console.log(`res #${id} called after ${n} milliseconds`, Date.now() - start)
      }, n)
    })
  }

  const data = await Promise.all([res(3000), res(2000), res(1000)])
  console.log(`Promise.all finished`, Date.now() - start)
}

example()

This means that Promise.all will resolve with the data from the inner promises after 3 seconds.

But, Promise.all has a "fail fast" behavior:

_{Example #2}

const data = await Promise.all([res(3000), res(2000), rej(1000)])
//                              ^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^
//                               delay 1    delay 2    delay 3
//
// ms ------1---------2---------3
// =============================O delay 1
// ===================O           delay 2
// =========X                     delay 3
//
// =========X                     Promise.all

async function example() {
  const start = Date.now()
  let i = 0
  function res(n) {
    const id = ++i
    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
      setTimeout(() => {
        resolve()
        console.log(`res #${id} called after ${n} milliseconds`, Date.now() - start)
      }, n)
    })
  }
  
  function rej(n) {
    const id = ++i
    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
      setTimeout(() => {
        reject()
        console.log(`rej #${id} called after ${n} milliseconds`, Date.now() - start)
      }, n)
    })
  }
  
  try {
    const data = await Promise.all([res(3000), res(2000), rej(1000)])
  } catch (error) {
    console.log(`Promise.all finished`, Date.now() - start)
  }
}

example()

If you use async-await instead, you will have to wait for each promise to resolve sequentially, which may not be as efficient:

_{Example #3}

const delay1 = res(3000)
const delay2 = res(2000)
const delay3 = rej(1000)

const data1 = await delay1
const data2 = await delay2
const data3 = await delay3

// ms ------1---------2---------3
// =============================O delay 1
// ===================O           delay 2
// =========X                     delay 3
//
// =============================X await

async function example() {
  const start = Date.now()
  let i = 0
  function res(n) {
    const id = ++i
    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
      setTimeout(() => {
        resolve()
        console.log(`res #${id} called after ${n} milliseconds`, Date.now() - start)
      }, n)
    })
  }
  
  function rej(n) {
    const id = ++i
    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
      setTimeout(() => {
        reject()
        console.log(`rej #${id} called after ${n} milliseconds`, Date.now() - start)
      }, n)
    })
  }
  
  try {
    const delay1 = res(3000)
    const delay2 = res(2000)
    const delay3 = rej(1000)

    const data1 = await delay1
    const data2 = await delay2
    const data3 = await delay3
  } catch (error) {
    console.log(`await finished`, Date.now() - start)
  }
}

example()