variables.md

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Variables

• 13.1 Always use const 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
const superPower = new SuperPower();

• 13.2 Use one const declaration per variable.

Why? 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
const items = getItems(),
    goSportsTeam = true,
    dragonball = 'z';

// bad
// (compare to above, and try to spot the mistake)
const items = getItems(),
    goSportsTeam = true;
    dragonball = 'z';

// good
const items = getItems();
const goSportsTeam = true;
const dragonball = 'z';

• 13.3 Group all your consts and then group all your lets.

Why? This is helpful when later on you might need to assign a variable depending on one of the previous assigned variables.

// bad
let i, len, dragonball,
    items = getItems(),
    goSportsTeam = true;

// bad
let i;
const items = getItems();
let dragonball;
const goSportsTeam = true;
let len;

// good
const goSportsTeam = true;
const items = getItems();
let dragonball;
let i;
let length;

• 13.4 Assign variables where you need them, but place them in a reasonable place.

Why? let and const are block scoped and not function scoped.

// good
function() {
  test();
  console.log('doing stuff..');

  //..other stuff..

  const name = getName();

  if (name === 'test') {
    return false;
  }

  return name;
}

// bad - unnessary function call
function(hasName) {
  const name = getName();

  if (!hasName) {
    return false;
  }

  this.setFirstName(name);

  return true;
}

// good
function(hasName) {
  if (!hasName) {
    return false;
  }

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

  return true;
}