
A mostly reasonable approach to JavaScript
- Types
- Objects
- Arrays
- Strings
- Functions
- Properties
- Variables
- Hoisting
- Comparison Operators & Equality
- Blocks
- Comments
- Whitespace
- Commas
- Semicolons
- Type Casting & Coercion
- Naming Conventions
- Accessors
- Constructors
- Events
- Modules
- jQuery
- ECMAScript 5 Compatibility
- Testing
- Performance
- Resources
- In the Wild
- Translation
- The JavaScript Style Guide Guide
- Chat With Us About Javascript
- Contributors
- License
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Primitives: When you access a primitive type you work directly on its value.
string
number
boolean
null
undefined
var foo = 1; var bar = foo; bar = 9; console.log(foo, bar); // => 1, 9
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Complex: When you access a complex type you work on a reference to its value.
object
array
function
var foo = [1, 2]; var bar = foo; bar[0] = 9; console.log(foo[0], bar[0]); // => 9, 9
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Use the literal syntax for object creation.
// bad var item = new Object(); // good var item = {};
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Don't use reserved words as keys. It won't work in IE8. More info.
// bad var superman = { default: { clark: 'kent' }, private: true }; // good var superman = { defaults: { clark: 'kent' }, hidden: true };
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Use readable synonyms in place of reserved words.
// bad var superman = { class: 'alien' }; // bad var superman = { klass: 'alien' }; // good var superman = { type: 'alien' };
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Use the literal syntax for array creation.
// bad var items = new Array(); // good var items = [];
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Use Array#push instead of direct assignment to add items to an array.
var someStack = []; // bad someStack[someStack.length] = 'abracadabra'; // good someStack.push('abracadabra');
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When you need to copy an array use Array#slice. jsPerf
var len = items.length; var itemsCopy = []; var i; // bad for (i = 0; i < len; i++) { itemsCopy[i] = items[i]; } // good itemsCopy = items.slice();
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To convert an array-like object to an array, use Array#slice.
function trigger() { var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments); ... }
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Use single quotes
''
for strings.// bad var name = "Bob Parr"; // good var name = 'Bob Parr'; // bad var fullName = "Bob " + this.lastName; // good var fullName = 'Bob ' + this.lastName;
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Strings longer than 80 characters should be written across multiple lines using string concatenation.
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Note: If overused, long strings with concatenation could impact performance. jsPerf & Discussion.
// bad var errorMessage = 'This is a super long error that was thrown because of Batman. When you stop to think about how Batman had anything to do with this, you would get nowhere fast.'; // bad var errorMessage = 'This is a super long error that was thrown because \ of Batman. When you stop to think about how Batman had anything to do \ with this, you would get nowhere \ fast.'; // good var errorMessage = 'This is a super long error that was thrown because ' + 'of Batman. When you stop to think about how Batman had anything to do ' + 'with this, you would get nowhere fast.';
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When programmatically building up a string, use Array#join instead of string concatenation. Mostly for IE: jsPerf.
var items; var messages; var length; var i; messages = [{ state: 'success', message: 'This one worked.' }, { state: 'success', message: 'This one worked as well.' }, { state: 'error', message: 'This one did not work.' }]; length = messages.length; // bad function inbox(messages) { items = '<ul>'; for (i = 0; i < length; i++) { items += '<li>' + messages[i].message + '</li>'; } return items + '</ul>'; } // good function inbox(messages) { items = []; for (i = 0; i < length; i++) { items[i] = '<li>' + messages[i].message + '</li>'; } return '<ul>' + items.join('') + '</ul>'; }
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Function expressions:
// anonymous function expression var anonymous = function() { return true; }; // named function expression var named = function named() { return true; }; // immediately-invoked function expression (IIFE) (function() { console.log('Welcome to the Internet. Please follow me.'); })();
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Never declare a function in a non-function block (if, while, etc). Assign the function to a variable instead. Browsers will allow you to do it, but they all interpret it differently, which is bad news bears.
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Note: ECMA-262 defines a
block
as a list of statements. A function declaration is not a statement. Read ECMA-262's note on this issue.// bad if (currentUser) { function test() { console.log('Nope.'); } } // good var test; if (currentUser) { test = function test() { console.log('Yup.'); }; }
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Never name a parameter
arguments
, this will take precedence over thearguments
object that is given to every function scope.// bad function nope(name, options, arguments) { // ...stuff... } // good function yup(name, options, args) { // ...stuff... }
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Use dot notation when accessing properties.
var luke = { jedi: true, age: 28 }; // bad var isJedi = luke['jedi']; // good var isJedi = luke.jedi;
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Use subscript notation
[]
when accessing properties with a variable.var luke = { jedi: true, age: 28 }; function getProp(prop) { return luke[prop]; } var isJedi = getProp('jedi');
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Always use
var
to declare variables. Not doing so will result in global variables. We want to avoid polluting the global namespace. Captain Planet warned us of that.// bad superPower = new SuperPower(); // good var superPower = new SuperPower();
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Use one
var
declaration per variable. It's easier to add new variable declarations this way, and you never have to worry about swapping out a;
for a,
or introducing punctuation-only diffs.// bad var items = getItems(), goSportsTeam = true, dragonball = 'z'; // bad // (compare to above, and try to spot the mistake) var items = getItems(), goSportsTeam = true; dragonball = 'z'; // good var items = getItems(); var goSportsTeam = true; var dragonball = 'z';
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Declare unassigned variables last. This is helpful when later on you might need to assign a variable depending on one of the previous assigned variables.
// bad var i, len, dragonball, items = getItems(), goSportsTeam = true; // bad var i; var items = getItems(); var dragonball; var goSportsTeam = true; var len; // good var items = getItems(); var goSportsTeam = true; var dragonball; var length; var i;