# orElse Functions

### TaskResult.orElse

Namespace: `FsToolkit.ErrorHandling`

Returns the original result unchanged if it is `Ok`, otherwise returns the provided alternative result.

### Function Signature:

```fsharp
Task<Result<'ok, 'error2>>
  -> Task<Result<'ok, 'error>>
  -> Task<Result<'ok, 'error2>>
```

### Examples

#### Example 1

```fsharp
TaskResult.error "First"
|> TaskResult.orElse (TaskResult.ok "Second")
// evaluates to Ok "Second"
```

#### Example 2

When the input is already `Ok`, the alternative is ignored:

```fsharp
TaskResult.ok "First"
|> TaskResult.orElse (TaskResult.error "Second")
// evaluates to Ok "First"
```

***

### TaskResult.orElseWith

Namespace: `FsToolkit.ErrorHandling`

Returns the original result unchanged if it is `Ok`, otherwise calls the given function with the error value and returns its result. The alternative function is **not** evaluated unless the input is `Error`.

### Function Signature:

```fsharp
('error -> Task<Result<'ok, 'error2>>)
  -> Task<Result<'ok, 'error>>
  -> Task<Result<'ok, 'error2>>
```

### Examples

#### Example 1

```fsharp
TaskResult.error "First"
|> TaskResult.orElseWith (fun _ -> TaskResult.error "Second")
// evaluates to Error "Second"
```

#### Example 2

Falling back to a secondary data source when the primary fails:

```fsharp
let getUser (id: UserId) : Task<Result<User, string>> =
  fetchFromCache id
  |> TaskResult.orElseWith (fun _ -> fetchFromDatabase id)
```

#### Example 3

Using the error value to decide the fallback strategy:

```fsharp
let result =
  fetchData ()
  |> TaskResult.orElseWith (fun err ->
      if isRetryable err then retryFetch ()
      else TaskResult.error err)
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://demystifyfp.gitbook.io/fstoolkit-errorhandling/fstoolkit.errorhandling/taskresult/orelsefunctions.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
