A mostly reasonable approach to JavaScript
- Types
- Objects
- Arrays
- Strings
- Functions
- Properties
- Variables
- Hoisting
- Conditional Expressions & Equality
- Blocks
- Comments
- Whitespace
- Commas
- Semicolons
- Type Casting & Coercion
- Naming Conventions
- Accessors
- Constructors
- Events
- Modules
- jQuery
- ES5 Compatibility
- Testing
- Performance
- Resources
- In the Wild
- Translation
- The JavaScript Style Guide Guide
- Contributors
- License
-
Primitives: When you access a primitive type you work directly on its value
stringnumberbooleannullundefined
var foo = 1, bar = foo; bar = 9; console.log(foo, bar); // => 1, 9
-
Complex: When you access a complex type you work on a reference to its value
objectarrayfunction
var foo = [1, 2], bar = foo; bar[0] = 9; console.log(foo[0], bar[0]); // => 9, 9
-
Use the literal syntax for object creation.
// bad var item = new Object(); // good var item = {};
-
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 };
-
Use readable synonyms in place of reserved words.
// bad var superman = { class: 'alien' }; // bad var superman = { klass: 'alien' }; // good var superman = { type: 'alien' };
-
Use the literal syntax for array creation
// bad var items = new Array(); // good var items = [];
-
If you don't know array length use Array#push.
var someStack = []; // bad someStack[someStack.length] = 'abracadabra'; // good someStack.push('abracadabra');
-
When you need to copy an array use Array#slice. jsPerf
var len = items.length, itemsCopy = [], i; // bad for (i = 0; i < len; i++) { itemsCopy[i] = items[i]; } // good itemsCopy = items.slice();
-
To convert an array-like object to an array, use Array#slice.
function trigger() { var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments); ... }
-
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;
-
Strings longer than 80 characters should be written across multiple lines using string concatenation.
-
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.';
-
When programatically building up a string, use Array#join instead of string concatenation. Mostly for IE: jsPerf.
var items, messages, length, 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] = messages[i].message; } return '<ul><li>' + items.join('</li><li>') + '</li></ul>'; }
-
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.'); })();
-
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.
-
Note: ECMA-262 defines a
blockas 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.'); }; }
-
Never name a parameter
arguments, this will take precedence over theargumentsobject that is given to every function scope.// bad function nope(name, options, arguments) { // ...stuff... } // good function yup(name, options, args) { // ...stuff... }
-
Use dot notation when accessing properties.
var luke = { jedi: true, age: 28 }; // bad var isJedi = luke['jedi']; // good var isJedi = luke.jedi;
-
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');
-
Always use
varto 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();
-
Use one
vardeclaration for multiple variables and declare each variable on a newline.// bad var items = getItems(); var goSportsTeam = true; var dragonball = 'z'; // good var items = getItems(), goSportsTeam = true, dragonball = 'z';
-
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, items = getItems(), dragonball, goSportsTeam = true, len; // good var items = getItems(), goSportsTeam = true, dragonball, length, i;
-
Assign variables at the top of their scope. This helps avoid issues with variable declaration and assignment hoisting related issues.
// bad function() { test(); console.log('doing stuff..'); //..other stuff.. var name = getName(); if (name === 'test') { return false; } return name; } // good function() { var name = getName(); test(); console.log('doing stuff..'); //..other stuff.. if (name === 'test') { return false; } return name; } // bad function() { var name = getName(); if (!arguments.length) { return false; } return true; } // good function() { if (!arguments.length) { return false; } var name = getName(); return true; }
-
Variable declarations get hoisted to the top of their scope, their assignment does not.
// we know this wouldn't work (assuming there // is no notDefined global variable) function example() { console.log(notDefined); // => throws a ReferenceError } // creating a variable declaration after you // reference the variable will work due to // variable hoisting. Note: the assignment // value of `true` is not hoisted. function example() { console.log(declaredButNotAssigned); // => undefined var declaredButNotAssigned = true; } // The interpreter is hoisting the variable // declaration to the top of the scope. // Which means our example could be rewritten as: function example() { var declaredButNotAssigned; console.log(declaredButNotAssigned); // => undefined declaredButNotAssigned = true; }
-
Anonymous function expressions hoist their variable name, but not the function assignment.
function example() { console.log(anonymous); // => undefined anonymous(); // => TypeError anonymous is not a function var anonymous = function() { console.log('anonymous function expression'); }; }
-
Named function expressions hoist the variable name, not the function name or the function body.
function example() { console.log(named); // => undefined named(); // => TypeError named is not a function superPower(); // => ReferenceError superPower is not defined var named = function superPower() { console.log('Flying'); }; } // the same is true when the function name // is the same as the variable name. function example() { console.log(named); // => undefined named(); // => TypeError named is not a function var named = function named() { console.log('named'); } }
-
Function declarations hoist their name and the function body.
function example() { superPower(); // => Flying function superPower() { console.log('Flying'); } }
-
For more information refer to JavaScript Scoping & Hoisting by Ben Cherry
-
Use
===and!==over==and!=. -
Conditional expressions are evaluated using coercion with the
ToBooleanmethod and always follow these simple rules:- Objects evaluate to true
- Undefined evaluates to false
- Null evaluates to false
- Booleans evaluate to the value of the boolean
- Numbers evaluate to false if +0, -0, or NaN, otherwise true
- Strings evaluate to false if an empty string
'', otherwise true
if ([0]) { // true // An array is an object, objects evaluate to true }
-
Use shortcuts.
// bad if (name !== '') { // ...stuff... } // good if (name) { // ...stuff... } // bad if (collection.length > 0) { // ...stuff... } // good if (collection.length) { // ...stuff... }
-
For more information see Truth Equality and JavaScript by Angus Croll
-
Use braces with all multi-line blocks.
// bad if (test) return false; // good if (test) return false; // good if (test) { return false; } // bad function() { return false; } // good function() { return false; }
-
Use
/** ... */for multiline comments. Include a description, specify types and values for all parameters and return values.// bad // make() returns a new element // based on the passed in tag name // // @param <String> tag // @return <Element> element function make(tag) { // ...stuff... return element; } // good /** * make() returns a new element * based on the passed in tag name * * @param <String> tag * @return <Element> element */ function make(tag) { // ...stuff... return element; }
-
Use
//for single line comments. Place single line comments on a newline above the subject of the comment. Put an empty line before the comment.// bad var active = true; // is current tab // good // is current tab var active = true; // bad function getType() { console.log('fetching type...'); // set the default type to 'no type' var type = this._type || 'no type'; return type; } // good function getType() { console.log('fetching type...'); // set the default type to 'no type' var type = this._type || 'no type'; return type; }
-
Prefixing your comments with
FIXMEorTODOhelps other developers quickly understand if you're pointing out a problem that needs to be revisited, or if you're suggesting a solution to the problem that needs to be implemented. These are different than regular comments because they are actionable. The actions areFIXME -- need to figure this outorTODO -- need to implement. -
Use
// FIXME:to annotate problemsfunction Calculator() { // FIXME: shouldn't use a global here total = 0; return this; }
-
Use
// TODO:to annotate solutions to problemsfunction Calculator() { // TODO: total should be configurable by an options param this.total = 0; return this; }
**[[⬆]](#TOC)**
## <a name='whitespace'>Whitespace</a>
- Use soft tabs set to 2 spaces
```javascript
// bad
function() {
∙∙∙∙var name;
}
// bad
function() {
∙var name;
}
// good
function() {
∙∙var name;
}
```
- Place 1 space before the leading brace.
```javascript
// bad
function test(){
console.log('test');
}
// good
function test() {
console.log('test');
}
// bad
dog.set('attr',{
age: '1 year',
breed: 'Bernese Mountain Dog'
});
// good
dog.set('attr', {
age: '1 year',
breed: 'Bernese Mountain Dog'
});
```
- Place an empty newline at the end of the file.
```javascript
// bad
(function(global) {
// ...stuff...
})(this);
```
```javascript
// good
(function(global) {
// ...stuff...
})(this);
```
- Use indentation when making long method chains.
```javascript
// bad
$('#items').find('.selected').highlight().end().find('.open').updateCount();
// good
$('#items')
.find('.selected')
.highlight()
.end()
.find('.open')
.updateCount();
// bad
var leds = stage.selectAll('.led').data(data).enter().append('svg:svg').class('led', true)
.attr('width', (radius + margin) * 2).append('svg:g')
.attr('transform', 'translate(' + (radius + margin) + ',' + (radius + margin) + ')')
.call(tron.led);
// good
var leds = stage.selectAll('.led')
.data(data)
.enter().append('svg:svg')
.class('led', true)
.attr('width', (radius + margin) * 2)
.append('svg:g')
.attr('transform', 'translate(' + (radius + margin) + ',' + (radius + margin) + ')')
.call(tron.led);
```
**[[⬆]](#TOC)**
## <a name='commas'>Commas</a>
- Leading commas: **Nope.**
```javascript
// bad
var once
, upon
, aTime;
// good
var once,
upon,
aTime;
// bad
var hero = {
firstName: 'Bob'
, lastName: 'Parr'
, heroName: 'Mr. Incredible'
, superPower: 'strength'
};
// good
var hero = {
firstName: 'Bob',
lastName: 'Parr',
heroName: 'Mr. Incredible',
superPower: 'strength'
};
```
- Additional trailing comma: **Nope.** This can cause problems with IE6/7 and IE9 if it's in quirksmode. Also, in some implementations of ES3 would add length to an array if it had an additional trailing comma. This was clarified in ES5 ([source](http://es5.github.io/#D)):
> Edition 5 clarifies the fact that a trailing comma at the end of an ArrayInitialiser does not add to the length of the array. This is not a semantic change from Edition 3 but some implementations may have previously misinterpreted this.
```javascript
// bad
var hero = {
firstName: 'Kevin',
lastName: 'Flynn',
};
var heroes = [
'Batman',
'Superman',
];
// good
var hero = {
firstName: 'Kevin',
lastName: 'Flynn'
};
var heroes = [
'Batman',
'Superman'
];
```
**[[⬆]](#TOC)**
## <a name='semicolons'>Semicolons</a>
- **Yup.**
```javascript
// bad
(function() {
var name = 'Skywalker'
return name
})()
// good
(function() {
var name = 'Skywalker';
return name;
})();
// good
;(function() {
var name = 'Skywalker';
return name;
})();
```
**[[⬆]](#TOC)**
## <a name='type-coercion'>Type Casting & Coercion</a>
- Perform type coercion at the beginning of the statement.
- Strings:
```javascript
// => this.reviewScore = 9;
// bad
var totalScore = this.reviewScore + '';
// good
var totalScore = '' + this.reviewScore;
// bad
var totalScore = '' + this.reviewScore + ' total score';
// good
var totalScore = this.reviewScore + ' total score';
```
- Use `parseInt` for Numbers and always with a radix for type casting.
```javascript
var inputValue = '4';
// bad
var val = new Number(inputValue);
// bad
var val = +inputValue;
// bad
var val = inputValue >> 0;
// bad
var val = parseInt(inputValue);
// good
var val = Number(inputValue);
// good
var val = parseInt(inputValue, 10);
```
- If for whatever reason you are doing something wild and `parseInt` is your bottleneck and need to use Bitshift for [performance reasons](http://jsperf.com/coercion-vs-casting/3), leave a comment explaining why and what you're doing.
- **Note:** Be careful when using bitshift operations. Numbers are represented as [64-bit values](http://es5.github.io/#x4.3.19), but Bitshift operations always return a 32-bit integer ([source](http://es5.github.io/#x11.7)). Bitshift can lead to unexpected behavior for integer values larger than 32 bits. [Discussion](https://github.com/airbnb/javascript/issues/109)
```javascript
// good
/**
* parseInt was the reason my code was slow.
* Bitshifting the String to coerce it to a
* Number made it a lot faster.
*/
var val = inputValue >> 0;
```
- Booleans:
```javascript
var age = 0;
// bad
var hasAge = new Boolean(age);
// good
var hasAge = Boolean(age);
// good
var hasAge = !!age;
```
**[[⬆]](#TOC)**
## <a name='naming-conventions'>Naming Conventions</a>
- Avoid single letter names. Be descriptive with your naming.
```javascript
// bad
function q() {
// ...stuff...
}
// good
function query() {
// ..stuff..
}
```
- Use camelCase when naming objects, functions, and instances
```javascript
// bad
var OBJEcttsssss = {};
var this_is_my_object = {};
function c() {};
var u = new user({
name: 'Bob Parr'
});
// good
var thisIsMyObject = {};
function thisIsMyFunction() {};
var user = new User({
name: 'Bob Parr'
});
```
- Use PascalCase when naming constructors or classes
```javascript
// bad
function user(options) {
this.name = options.name;
}
var bad = new user({
name: 'nope'
});
// good
function User(options) {
this.name = options.name;
}
var good = new User({
name: 'yup'
});
```
- Use a leading underscore `_` when naming private properties
```javascript
// bad
this.__firstName__ = 'Panda';
this.firstName_ = 'Panda';
// good
this._firstName = 'Panda';
```
- When saving a reference to `this` use `_this`.
```javascript
// bad
function() {
var self = this;
return function() {
console.log(self);
};
}
// bad
function() {
var that = this;
return function()