What do the `async` and `await` keywords facilitate in JavaScript?

The async and await keywords in JavaScript are designed to work together to simplify the handling of asynchronous operations. By using these keywords, JavaScript developers can write asynchronous code in a way that resembles synchronous code, making it easier to read and manage.

When a function is declared with the async keyword, it automatically returns a promise. Inside this function, the await keyword can be used before a promise to pause the execution of the function until that promise is resolved. This allows developers to write code that appears to execute in a linear fashion, even though it is still running asynchronously behind the scenes. As a result, it effectively reduces complexity associated with traditional callback functions or the chaining of promises, improving both readability and maintainability.

This feature is particularly beneficial when dealing with operations such as fetching data from an API, where you might want to wait for a response before proceeding to the next line of code. Instead of nesting callbacks or chaining .then() methods, async and await provide a more straightforward way to handle the flow of asynchronous logic.