doc: clarify util.aborted resource usage

KunalKumar-1 · ruyadorno · commit 9436c3c949df · 2025-01-05T13:05:31.000-05:00
PR-URL: #55780 Fixes: #55340 Reviewed-By: Benjamin Gruenbaum <benjamingr@gmail.com> Reviewed-By: Luigi Pinca <luigipinca@gmail.com> Reviewed-By: James M Snell <jasnell@gmail.com> Reviewed-By: Jason Zhang <xzha4350@gmail.com> Reviewed-By: Minwoo Jung <nodecorelab@gmail.com>
diff --git a/doc/api/util.md b/doc/api/util.md
@@ -2240,39 +2240,55 @@ added:
 > Stability: 1 - Experimental
 
 * `signal` {AbortSignal}
-* `resource` {Object} Any non-null entity, reference to which is held weakly.
+* `resource` {Object} Any non-null object tied to the abortable operation and held weakly.
+  If `resource` is garbage collected before the `signal` aborts, the promise remains pending,
+  allowing Node.js to stop tracking it.
+  This helps prevent memory leaks in long-running or non-cancelable operations.
 * Returns: {Promise}
 
-Listens to abort event on the provided `signal` and
-returns a promise that is fulfilled when the `signal` is
-aborted. If the passed `resource` is garbage collected before the `signal` is
-aborted, the returned promise shall remain pending indefinitely.
+Listens to abort event on the provided `signal` and returns a promise that resolves when the `signal` is aborted.
+If `resource` is provided, it weakly references the operation's associated object,
+so if `resource` is garbage collected before the `signal` aborts,
+then returned promise shall remain pending.
+This prevents memory leaks in long-running or non-cancelable operations.
 
 ```cjs
 const { aborted } = require('node:util');
 
+// Obtain an object with an abortable signal, like a custom resource or operation.
 const dependent = obtainSomethingAbortable();
 
+// Pass `dependent` as the resource, indicating the promise should only resolve
+// if `dependent` is still in memory when the signal is aborted.
 aborted(dependent.signal, dependent).then(() => {
-  // Do something when dependent is aborted.
+
+  // This code runs when `dependent` is aborted.
+  console.log('Dependent resource was aborted.');
 });
 
+// Simulate an event that triggers the abort.
 dependent.on('event', () => {
-  dependent.abort();
+  dependent.abort(); // This will cause the `aborted` promise to resolve.
 });
 ```
 
 ```mjs
 import { aborted } from 'node:util';
 
+// Obtain an object with an abortable signal, like a custom resource or operation.
 const dependent = obtainSomethingAbortable();
 
+// Pass `dependent` as the resource, indicating the promise should only resolve
+// if `dependent` is still in memory when the signal is aborted.
 aborted(dependent.signal, dependent).then(() => {
-  // Do something when dependent is aborted.
+
+  // This code runs when `dependent` is aborted.
+  console.log('Dependent resource was aborted.');
 });
 
+// Simulate an event that triggers the abort.
 dependent.on('event', () => {
-  dependent.abort();
+  dependent.abort(); // This will cause the `aborted` promise to resolve.
 });
 ```
 
