js array and promises different output in return an console.log()

[boreal mantle]

hi i started to learn js and i tried to parse html i encountered a a problem can someone please explain to me why i get different outputs and what is the better solution to get the same result stored in the dataList and what is that " <1 empty item>"
https://paste.developerden.net/nonosytahy.js

[eternal wadi]

Await a

Well actually, await scrpData on the return line

I dunno if you can await on the top level...

Just a sec gonna check

[boreal mantle]

changed the link with package's added

i tried your way didn't work

[eternal wadi]

You can't await at the top level and since a is async the top level immediately goes to the log before ever running a. Two options.

1. Use a second async function that does all the top level stuff so you can await.

async function a() {
    getHtml = await fetch("https://www.npmjs.com/");
    htmlText = await getHtml.text();

    return htmlText.substring(0, 20);
}


async function run() {
    dataList = await a();
    console.log(dataList);
}


run();

2. Use then with a function (arrow function in this case)

async function a() {
    getHtml = await fetch("https://www.npmjs.com/");
    htmlText = await getHtml.text();

    return htmlText.substring(0, 20);
}

a().then(dataList => console.log(dataList));

I'd suggest the first option.