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JavaScript Common Mistakes

This chapter points out some common JavaScript mistakes.

Accidentally Using the Assignment Operator

JavaScript programs may generate unexpected results if a programmer accidentally uses an assignment operator (=), instead of a comparison operator (==) in an if statement.

This if statement returns false (as expected) because x is not equal to 10:

let x = 0;
if (x == 10)

This if statement returns true (maybe not as expected), because 10 is true:

let x = 0;
if (x = 10)

This if statement returns false (maybe not as expected), because 0 is false:

let x = 0;
if (x = 0)

An assignment always returns the value of the assignment.

Expecting Loose Comparison

In regular comparison, data type does not matter. This if statement returns true:

let x = 10;
let y = "10";
if (x == y)

In strict comparison, data type does matter. This if statement returns false:

let x = 10;
let y = "10";
if (x === y)

It is a common mistake to forget that switch statements use strict comparison:

This case switch will display an alert:

let x = 10;
switch(x) {
  case 10: alert("Hello");
}

This case switch will not display an alert:

let x = 10;
switch(x) {
  case "10": alert("Hello");
}

Confusing Addition & Concatenation

Addition is about adding numbers.

Concatenation is about adding strings.

In JavaScript both operations use the same + operator.

Because of this, adding a number as a number will produce a different result from adding a number as a string:

let x = 10;
x = 10 + 5;       // Now x is 15

let y = 10;
y += "5";        // Now y is "105"

When adding two variables, it can be difficult to anticipate the result:

let x = 10;
let y = 5;
let z = x + y;     // Now z is 15

let x = 10;
let y = "5";
let z = x + y;     // Now z is "105"

Misunderstanding Floats

All numbers in JavaScript are stored as 64-bits Floating point numbers (Floats).

All programming languages, including JavaScript, have difficulties with precise floating point values:

let x = 0.1;
let y = 0.2;
let z = x + y            // the result in z will not be 0.3

To solve the problem above, it helps to multiply and divide:

Example

let z = (x * 10 + y * 10) / 10;       // z will be 0.3

Breaking a JavaScript String

JavaScript will allow you to break a statement into two lines:

Example 1

let x =
"Hello World!";

But, breaking a statement in the middle of a string will not work:

Example 2

let x = "Hello
World!";

You must use a "backslash" if you must break a statement in a string:

Example 3

let x = "Hello
World!";

Misplacing Semicolon

Because of a misplaced semicolon, this code block will execute regardless of the value of x:

if (x == 19);
{
  // code block 
}

Breaking a Return Statement

It is a default JavaScript behavior to close a statement automatically at the end of a line.

Because of this, these two examples will return the same result:

Example 1

function myFunction(a) {
  let power = 10 
  return a * power
}

Example 2

function myFunction(a) {
  let power = 10;
  return a * power;
}

JavaScript will also allow you to break a statement into two lines.

Because of this, example 3 will also return the same result:

Example 3

function myFunction(a) {
  let
  power = 10; 
  return a * power;
}

But, what will happen if you break the return statement in two lines like this:

Example 4

function myFunction(a) {
  let
  power = 10; 
  return
  a * power;
}

The function will return undefined!

Why? Because JavaScript thought you meant:

Example 5

function myFunction(a) {
  let
  power = 10; 
  return;
  a * power;
}

Explanation

If a statement is incomplete like:

let

JavaScript will try to complete the statement by reading the next line:

power = 10;

But since this statement is complete:

return

JavaScript will automatically close it like this:

return;

This happens because closing (ending) statements with semicolon is optional in JavaScript.

JavaScript will close the return statement at the end of the line, because it is a complete statement.

Never break a return statement.

Accessing Arrays with Named Indexes

Many programming languages support arrays with named indexes.

Arrays with named indexes are called associative arrays (or hashes).

JavaScript does not support arrays with named indexes.

In JavaScript, arrays use numbered indexes:  

Example

const person = [];
person[0] = "John";
person[1] = "Doe";
person[2] = 46;
person.length;       // person.length will return 3
person[0];           // person[0] will return "John"

In JavaScript, objects use named indexes.

If you use a named index, when accessing an array, JavaScript will redefine the array to a standard object.

After the automatic redefinition, array methods and properties will produce undefined or incorrect results:

Example:

const person = [];
person["firstName"] = "John";
person["lastName"] = "Doe";
person["age"] = 46;
person.length;      // person.length will return 0
person[0];          // person[0] will return undefined

Ending Definitions with a Comma

Trailing commas in object and array definition are legal in ECMAScript 5.

Object Example:

person = {firstName:"John", lastName:"Doe", age:46,}

Array Example:

points = [40, 100, 1, 5, 25, 10,];

WARNING !!

Internet Explorer 8 will crash.

JSON does not allow trailing commas.

JSON:

person = {"firstName":"John", "lastName":"Doe", "age":46}

JSON:

points = [40, 100, 1, 5, 25, 10];

Undefined is Not Null

JavaScript objects, variables, properties, and methods can be undefined.

In addition, empty JavaScript objects can have the value null.

This can make it a little bit difficult to test if an object is empty.

You can test if an object exists by testing if the type is undefined:

Example:

if (typeof myObj === "undefined") 

But you cannot test if an object is null, because this will throw an error if the object is undefined:

Incorrect:

if (myObj === null) 

To solve this problem, you must test if an object is not null, and not undefined.

But this can still throw an error:

Incorrect:

if (myObj !== null && typeof myObj !== "undefined") 

Because of this, you must test for not undefined before you can test for not null:

Correct:

if (typeof myObj !== "undefined" && myObj !== null) 

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