JavaScript Style Guide

Based on Airbnb's JavaScript (ES5) Style Guide with modifications

Objects

Use the literal syntax for object creation.

// bad
var item = new Object();

// good
var item = {};

Don't use reserved words as keys.

// 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'
};

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Arrays

Use the literal syntax for array creation.

// bad
var items = new Array();

// good
var items = [];

Use Array#push instead of direct assignment to add items to an array.

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;
var itemsCopy = [];
var 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);
  ...
}

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Strings

Strings longer than 100 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 programmatically building up a string, consider using Array#join instead of string concatenation.

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++) {
    // use direct assignment in this case because we're micro-optimizing.
    items[i] = '<li>' + messages[i].message + '</li>';
  }

  return '<ul>' + items.join('') + '</ul>';
}

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Functions

Use immediately-invoked function expressions (IIFEs) to create a local lexical scope.

// Variables defined inside an IIFE won't be hoisted outside of the IIFE.
(function () {
  var name = 'Picaso';
  console.log('Welcome to the Internet, ' + name);
}());

Never declare a function in a non-function block (if, while, etc). Assign the function to a variable instead. Browsers may interpret it differently.

// 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 the arguments 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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Variables

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();
```

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';

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;

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 - unnecessary function call
function () {
  var name = getName();

  if (!arguments.length) {
    return false;
  }

  this.setFirstName(name);

  return true;
}

// good
function () {
  var name;

  if (!arguments.length) {
    return false;
  }

  name = getName();
  this.setFirstName(name);

  return true;
}

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Hoisting

Variable declarations get hoisted to the top of their scope, but 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.

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Comparison Operators & Equality

Use === and !== over == and !=.
Conditional statements such as the if statement evaluate their expression using coercion with the ToBoolean abstract method 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.

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Blocks

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;
}

If you're using multi-line blocks with if and else, put else on the same indentation level as your if.

// bad
if (test) {
  thing1();
  thing2();
} else {
  thing3();
}

// good
if (test) {
  thing1();
  thing2();
}
else {
  thing3();
}

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Comments

Use /** ... */ for multi-line comments. Include a description, specify types and values for all parameters and return values. Use JSDoc.

// bad
// Returns a new element based on the passed in tag name.
//
// @param {String} tag - The tag name of the new element.
// @return {Element} The generated element.
function make(tag) {

  // ...stuff...

  return element;
}

// good
/**
 * Returns a new element based on the passed in tag name
 *
 * @param {String} tag
 *   The tag name of the new element.
 * @return {Element}
 *   The generated 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;
}

Module-level comment: Use comment at the beginning of each module to explain what is the purpose of this module, what main classes it has, and/or example usage.
Class, method, and function-level comment: Comment on each class and important methods and functions. Explain the purpose. For classes, also explain the role and responsibility, how it relates to other classes, etc. For methods and functions, also explain the pre-condition, post-condition, parameters, and return value. Use JSDoc.
Prefixing your comments with FIXME or TODO helps 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 are FIXME -- need to figure this out or TODO -- need to implement.

Use // FIXME: to annotate problems.

function Calculator() {

  // FIXME: shouldn't use a global here
  total = 0;

  return this;
}

Use // TODO: to annotate solutions to problems.

function Calculator() {

  // TODO: total should be configurable by an options param
  this.total = 0;

  return this;
}

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Whitespace

Use soft tabs set to 2 spaces.

// bad
function () {
∙∙∙∙var name;
}

// bad
function () {
∙var name;
}

// good
function () {
∙∙var name;
}

Place 1 space before the leading brace.

// 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 1 space before the opening parenthesis in control statements (if, while etc.). Place no space before the argument list in function calls and declarations.

// bad
if(isJedi) {
  fight ();
}

// good
if (isJedi) {
  fight();
}

// bad
function fight () {
  console.log ('Swooosh!');
}

// good
function fight() {
  console.log('Swooosh!');
}

Set off operators with spaces.

// bad
var x=y+5;

// good
var x = y + 5;

End files with a single newline character.

// bad
(function (global) {
  // ...stuff...
})(this);

// bad
(function (global) {
  // ...stuff...
})(this);↵
↵

// good
(function (global) {
  // ...stuff...
})(this);↵

Use indentation when making long method chains. Use a leading dot, which emphasizes that the line is a method call, not a new statement.

// bad
$('#items').find('.selected').highlight().end().find('.open').updateCount();

// 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').classed('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')
    .classed('led', true)
    .attr('width', (radius + margin) * 2)
  .append('svg:g')
    .attr('transform', 'translate(' + (radius + margin) + ',' + (radius + margin) + ')')
    .call(tron.led);

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Commas

Leading commas: Nope.

// bad
var story = [
    once
  , upon
  , aTime
];

// good
var story = [
  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'
};

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Semicolons

Yup.

// bad
(function () {
  var name = 'Skywalker'
  return name
})()

// good
(function () {
  var name = 'Skywalker';
  return name;
})();

// good (guards against the function becoming an argument when two files with IIFEs are concatenated)
;(function () {
  var name = 'Skywalker';
  return name;
})();

Lines

Line width should be within 80 as possible as you can. Shorter lines are usually more readable and more friendly to people working with small screens, such as on a laptop.

For long lines, try to find a meaningful way to break it down into multiple, short lines.

// bad
var reqUrl = 'http://mysite/search?q=' + cleanedQuery + '&amp;session=' + sessionId + '&amp;lang=' + userLanguage + '&amp;profile=' + userId + '&amp;presentationMode=' + presentationMode + '&amp;countPerPage=' + countPerPage;

// good
var reqUrl = 'http://mysite/search?q=' + cleanedQuery
             + '&amp;session=' + sessionId
             + '&amp;lang=' + userLanguage
             + '&amp;profile=' + userId
             + '&amp;presentationMode=' + presentationMode
             + '&amp;countPerPage=' + countPerPage;

// bad
if (superLongConditionThatUnfortunatellyCannotBeShortened1 && superLongConditionThatUnfortunatellyCannotBeShortened2) {
  // do something ...
}

// good
if (superLongConditionThatUnfortunatellyCannotBeShortened1
    && superLongConditionThatUnfortunatellyCannotBeShortened2) {
  // do something ...
}

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Type Casting & Coercion

Perform type coercion at the beginning of the statement.

Strings:

//  => 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';

When using parseInt, always specify the radix.

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);

Booleans:

var age = 0;

// bad
var hasAge = new Boolean(age);

// good
var hasAge = Boolean(age);

// good
var hasAge = !!age;

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Naming Conventions

Avoid single letter names. Be descriptive with your naming.

// bad
function q() {
  // ...stuff...
}

// good
function query() {
  // ..stuff..
}

Use camelCase when naming objects, functions, and instances.

// bad
var OBJEcttsssss = {};
var this_is_my_object = {};
var o = {};
function c() {}

// good
var thisIsMyObject = {};
function thisIsMyFunction() {}

Use PascalCase when naming constructors or classes.

// 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'
});

Don't save references to this. Use Function#bind.

// bad
function () {
  var self = this;
  return function () {
    console.log(self);
  };
}

// bad
function () {
  var that = this;
  return function () {
    console.log(that);
  };
}

// bad
function () {
  var _this = this;
  return function () {
    console.log(_this);
  };
}

// good
function () {
  return function () {
    console.log(this);
  }.bind(this);
}

Name your functions. This is helpful for stack traces.

// ok but not recommended
var log = function (msg) {
  console.log(msg);
};

// recommended
var log = function log(msg) {
  console.log(msg);
};

If your file exports a single class, your filename should be exactly the name of the class.

// file contents
class CheckBox {
  // ...
}
module.exports = CheckBox;

// in some other file
// bad
var CheckBox = require('./checkBox');

// bad
var CheckBox = require('./check_box');

// good
var CheckBox = require('./CheckBox');

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Accessors

If you do make accessor functions use getVal() and setVal('hello').

// bad
dragon.age();

// good
dragon.getAge();

// bad
dragon.age(25);

// good
dragon.setAge(25);

If the property is a boolean, use isVal() or hasVal().

// bad
if (!dragon.age()) {
  return false;
}

// good
if (!dragon.hasAge()) {
  return false;
}

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Constructors

Assign methods to the prototype object, instead of overwriting the prototype with a new object. Overwriting the prototype makes inheritance impossible: by resetting the prototype you'll overwrite the base!

function Jedi() {
  console.log('new jedi');
}

// bad
Jedi.prototype = {
  fight: function fight() {
    console.log('fighting');
  },

  block: function block() {
    console.log('blocking');
  }
};

// good
Jedi.prototype.fight = function fight() {
  console.log('fighting');
};

Jedi.prototype.block = function block() {
  console.log('blocking');
};

Methods can return this to help with method chaining.

// bad
Jedi.prototype.jump = function jump() {
  this.jumping = true;
  return true;
};

Jedi.prototype.setHeight = function setHeight(height) {
  this.height = height;
};

var luke = new Jedi();
luke.jump(); // => true
luke.setHeight(20); // => undefined

// good
Jedi.prototype.jump = function jump() {
  this.jumping = true;
  return this;
};

Jedi.prototype.setHeight = function setHeight(height) {
  this.height = height;
  return this;
};

var luke = new Jedi();

luke.jump()
  .setHeight(20);

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JavaScript Style Guide

Table of Contents

Objects

Arrays

Strings

Functions

Variables

Hoisting

Comparison Operators & Equality

Blocks

Comments

Whitespace

Commas

Semicolons

Lines

Type Casting & Coercion

Naming Conventions

Accessors

Constructors

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