The inability to use the `await` keyword outside of an `async` function indicates a JavaScript environment that doesn’t support this feature. This typically occurs in older JavaScript engines or environments where the necessary updates haven’t been implemented. For instance, attempting to use `await` directly within a module’s top level in an older browser or Node.js version will trigger this error. A workaround involves wrapping the code within an immediately invoked async function expression.
Support for this functionality simplifies asynchronous code at the top level of modules, removing the need for immediately invoked async functions. This leads to cleaner and more readable code, particularly when dealing with module initialization involving asynchronous operations like fetching resources or establishing connections. The historical context involves the evolution of JavaScript’s asynchronous handling; older versions lacked this feature, requiring more complex workarounds. Modern environments embracing the latest JavaScript standards generally provide this capability.
