ExactTarget JavaScript Style Guide

A mostly reasonable approach to JavaScript

Usage

Types
Objects
Arrays
Strings
Functions
Properties
Variables
Hoisting
Conditional Expressions & Equality
Blocks
Comments
Whitespace
Leading Commas
Semicolons
Type Casting & Coercion
Naming Conventions
Accessors
Constructors
Modules
jQuery
ES5 Compatibility
Testing
Performance
Resources
In the Wild
The JavaScript Style Guide Guide
Contributors
License

Types

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
```

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

[⬆]

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 = {
  class: 'superhero',
  default: { clark: 'kent' },
  private: true
};

// good
var superman = {
  cssClass: 'superhero',
  defaults: { clark: 'kent' },
  hidden: true
};

[⬆]

Arrays

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 = Array.prototype.slice.call(items);

[⬆]

Strings

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;

[⬆]

Functions

Function expressions:

// anonymous function as event handler
$el.on('click', function () {
  return true;
});

// optional name to aid debugging with stack traces
$el.on('click', function elClick() {
  return true;
});

// anonymous function as method
MyObject.prototype.isTrue = function () {
  return true;
};

// immediately-invoked function expression (IIFE)
(function () {
  console.log('Welcome to the Internet. Please follow me.');
})();

Function declarations:

// use a named declaration when appropriate mainly
// for internal helper logic and organization
function namedFunction() {
    return true;
}

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 block as a list of statements. A function declartion is not a statement. Read ECMA-262's note on this issue.

// bad
if (currentUser) {
  function test() {
    console.log('Nope.');
  }
}

// good
if (currentUser) {
  var 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...
}

[⬆]

Properties

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');

[⬆]

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 multiple var declarations for multiple variables and declare each variable on a newline. Justification: http://benalman.com/news/2012/05/multiple-var-statements-javascript

// bad
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. Multiple unassigned variables can be declared in a single-line var declaration.
```
// good
var items = getItems();
var goSportsTeam = true;
var i, j, length;
```

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;
}

[⬆]

Hoisting

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 interpretor 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

[⬆]

Conditional Expressions & Equality

Use === and !== over == and !=.
Conditional expressions are evaluated using coercion with the ToBoolean 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 evalute 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

[⬆]

Blocks

Use braces with all multi-line blocks.

// bad
if (test)
  return false;

// good
if (test) {
  return false;
}

// good
function () { return false; }

// good
function () {
  return false;
}

// acceptable (only for very simple statements and early function return)
if (test) return false;

[⬆]

Comments

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 emptyline 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;
}

[⬆]

Whitespace

Use tabs. One per indent level. This allows developers to choose their preferred display width.

// 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 anonymous function parenthesis.

// bad
function() {
	var name;
}

// good
function () {
	var name;
}

Place an empty newline at the end of the file.

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

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

[⬆]

Use indentation when making long method chains. Long method chains should be avoided except in cases of a performance benefit or significant readability benefit.

// 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);

Leading Commas

Nope.

// bad
var hero = {
    firstName: 'Bob'
  , lastName: 'Parr'
  , heroName: 'Mr. Incredible'
  , superPower: 'strength'
};

// good
var hero = {
  firstName: 'Bob',
  lastName: 'Parr',
  heroName: 'Mr. Incredible',
  superPower: 'strength'
};

[⬆]

Semicolons

Yup.

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

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

[⬆]

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';

Use parseInt for Numbers and always with a radix for type casting.

If for whatever reason you are doing something wild and parseInt is your bottleneck and need to use Bitshift for performance reasons, leave a comment explaining why and what you're doing.

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);

// 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:

var age = 0;

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

// good
var hasAge = Boolean(age);

// good
var hasAge = !!age;

[⬆]

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 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

// 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

// bad
this.__firstName__ = 'Panda';
this.firstName_ = 'Panda';

// good
this._firstName = 'Panda';

When saving a reference to this use self.

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

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

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

Name your functions. This is helpful for stack traces.

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

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

[⬆]

Accessors

Accessor functions for properties are not required

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;
}

It's okay to create get() and set() functions, but be consistent.

function Jedi(options) {
  options || (options = {});
  var lightsaber = options.lightsaber || 'blue';
  this.set('lightsaber', lightsaber);
}

Jedi.prototype.set = function (key, val) {
  this[key] = val;
};

Jedi.prototype.get = function (key) {
  return this[key];
};

[⬆]

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 () {
  this.jumping = true;
  return true;
};

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

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

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

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

var luke = new Jedi();

luke.jump()
  .setHeight(20);

It's okay to write a custom toString() method, just make sure it works successfully and causes no side effects.

function Jedi(options) {
  options || (options = {});
  this.name = options.name || 'no name';
}

Jedi.prototype.getName = function getName() {
  return this.name;
};

Jedi.prototype.toString = function toString() {
  return 'Jedi - ' + this.getName();
};

[⬆]

Modules

**[[⬆]](#TOC)**

jQuery

Prefix jQuery object variables with a $.

// bad
var sidebar = $('.sidebar');

// good
var $sidebar = $('.sidebar');

Cache jQuery lookups.

// bad
function setSidebar() {
  $('.sidebar').hide();

  // ...stuff...

  $('.sidebar').css({
    'background-color': 'pink'
  });
}

// good
function setSidebar() {
  var $sidebar = $('.sidebar');
  $sidebar.hide();

  // ...stuff...

  $sidebar.css({
    'background-color': 'pink'
  });
}

For DOM queries use Cascading $('.sidebar ul') or parent > child $('.sidebar > .ul'). jsPerf

Use find with scoped jQuery object queries.

// bad
$('.sidebar', 'ul').hide();

// bad
$('.sidebar').find('ul').hide();

// good
$('.sidebar ul').hide();

// good
$('.sidebar > ul').hide();

// good (slower)
$sidebar.find('ul');

// good (faster)
$($sidebar[0]).find('ul');

[⬆]

ECMAScript 5 Compatibility

Refer to Kangax's ES5 compatibility table

[⬆]

Testing

Yup.
```
function () {
  return true;
}
```
[⬆]

Performance

[⬆]

Resources

Read This

Annotated ECMAScript 5.1

Other Styleguides

Other Styles

Naming this in nested functions - Christian Johansen

Books

JavaScript: The Good Parts - Douglas Crockford
JavaScript Patterns - Stoyan Stefanov
Pro JavaScript Design Patterns - Ross Harmes and Dustin Diaz
High Performance Web Sites: Essential Knowledge for Front-End Engineers - Steve Souders
Maintainable JavaScript - Nicholas C. Zakas
JavaScript Web Applications - Alex MacCaw
Pro JavaScript Techniques - John Resig
Smashing Node.js: JavaScript Everywhere - Guillermo Rauch

Blogs

[⬆]

In the Wild

This is a list of organizations that are using this style guide. Send us a pull request or open an issue and we'll add you to the list.

Airbnb: airbnb/javascript
ExactTarget: ExactTarget/javascript
American Insitutes for Research: AIRAST/javascript
GoCardless: gocardless/javascript
GoodData: gooddata/gdc-js-style
How About We: howaboutwe/javascript
MinnPost: MinnPost/javascript
National Geographic: natgeo/javascript
Razorfish: razorfish/javascript-style-guide
Shutterfly: shutterfly/javascript

The JavaScript Style Guide Guide

Reference

Contributors

View Contributors

License

(The MIT License)

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the 'Software'), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED 'AS IS', WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.

Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

[⬆]

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 113 Commits
linters		linters
.gitignore		.gitignore
LICENSE.txt		LICENSE.txt
README.md		README.md

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ExactTarget JavaScript Style Guide

Usage

Table of Contents

Types

Objects

Arrays

Strings

Functions

Properties

Variables

Hoisting

Conditional Expressions & Equality

Blocks

Comments

Whitespace

Leading Commas

Semicolons

Type Casting & Coercion

Naming Conventions

Accessors

Constructors

Modules

jQuery

ECMAScript 5 Compatibility

Testing

Performance

Resources

In the Wild

The JavaScript Style Guide Guide

Contributors

License

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