web3.js: What is the difference between call back functions, and promises?

Question

I am new to web3 developing in java script. I am a little confused when to use a call back function, and when to use a promise. For instance this code to get transaction hash can be written in may ways:

web3.eth.sendSignedTransaction(transaction, (err, hash) => {console.log(hash)})

can also we written as:

web3.eth.sendSignedTransaction(transaction).on('receipt' , console.log)

I want to know the logic behind every way, and what is the difference between using a promise, and a call-back function. There is also the .then() scheme, and the on scheme. I am lost in the details, and can't know the difference between them, and how they work. The only thing I can see is that they can be used interchangeably.

Answer 1

The callback function is executed when the Node sends the transaction hash back to your process.

This typically happens almost immediately, and as such, it does not indicate that the transaction has been mined; you still need to take the transaction hash and use it in order to obtain the receipt; furthermore, you still need to take that receipt and wait for several confirmations of your transaction (where 12 confirmations are considered as a proof of your transaction permanently added to the blockchain).

The on function allows you to wait for the transaction hash or for the receipt or for each confirmation.

So it generally provides a wider range of options; see this coding example (it is given for function sendTransaction, but I believe that it works the same for function sendSignedTransaction).

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Here is a better explanation that I've come up with:

Function sendSignedTransaction returns a Promise object.

This object has an on function which can handle either one of the following events:

• 'transactionHash'
• 'receipt'
• 'confirmation'
• 'error'

If you pass a callback to function sendSignedTransaction, then before this function returns the Promise object, it handles the 'transactionHash' and 'error' events for you.

So in essence, this:

web3.eth.sendSignedTransaction(transaction, (err, hash) => {console.log(hash)})

Is equivalent to this:

web3.eth.sendSignedTransaction(transaction)
    .on('transactionHash', (hash) => {console.log(hash)})
    .on('error', (err) => {})

Note that this "chaining" of on function-calls is made possible by the fact that the on function returns the Promise object after handling the specified event.