getItemAsync

Learn secure reads with getItemAsync.

getItemAsync

To read a value from the secure store you use SecureStore.getItemAsync. The function takes one parameter: the key. If the key exists it returns the string value, otherwise it returns null. The function is asynchronous so it is awaited.

Example: const token = await SecureStore.getItemAsync('token'). This reads the value of the 'token' key. If the value does not exist token becomes null. So a null check after reading is a common pattern: if (token) { ... }. This is a safe way to check whether the user has logged in before.

Null check

getItemAsync returns null if the key does not exist. So a null check after reading is mandatory. The common pattern: const token = await SecureStore.getItemAsync('token'); if (!token) { return null; }. This allows early exit when the user has not logged in.

Without the null check, trying to use the token directly may raise an error; for example token.length raises a null error. So after each read an if (token) check is done. If the token is present it is added as an Authorization header to the API request: headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` }.

Exercise Read the token and check

Complete the loadToken function. Call const token = await SecureStore.getItemAsync('token'). If !token, return null. Otherwise return token.

Show example solution

const token = await SecureStore.getItemAsync('token');
if (!token) return null;
return token;

Test yourself

Write the read function

const token = await SecureStore.____('token');

Show answer

const token = await SecureStore.getItemAsync('token');

What does getItemAsync return when the key does not exist?
```
const value = await SecureStore.getItemAsync('missing')
```
- null
- Throws an error
- The string 'undefined'
- Empty string
Show answer

null — If the key does not exist it returns null.
Match each field to its purpose

key

Read name
value

Returned string
null

When key absent
await

Async wait

Next lesson: deleteItemAsync

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