Semicolons in JavaScript

[joshhartigan]

Just wondering, why don't you use Semicolons in JavaScript? Isn't it safer - and only costs a few extra bytes? (Not trying to start a flamewar, just interested in your take on it)

[max-mapper]

hey, thanks for asking! I just prefer it, and think it boils down to personal style. here are some random thoughts:

I dont keep them out for byte size reasons, byte size of source code syntax/style isn't really important since minifies will take everything out anyway. I do it because I havent found them to be necessary myself

I'm not sure what cases people get caught by not using semicolons, but it doesnt happen to me so I am happy not using them

The two cases I know to avoid are:

// some var with an IIFE on the next line
var x = y
(function(){})()

which gets interpreted as var x = y(function(){})()

but I avoid it by not using anonymous inline functions and writing it like this instead:

var x = y
function z(){}
z()

which accomplishes the same thing but doesnt use the IIFE pattern which I think is ugly anyway

the second case is:

return
a

which gets interpreted as return; a;. But it's easy: dont put a newline after your return statements. I actually use this early return pattern all the time in my code, e.g.:

function doStuff() {
  if (notReady)
    return

  console.log('will only get here if ready')
}

[joshhartigan]

thanks for your answer!

[fiveisprime]

Sorry to jump into a closed thread, but I've been working through thoughts on life without semicolons and came up with an additional solution to an IIFE after var declaration

var x = y
void function (){ }()

👍

[ghost]

What about:

var x = y
!function(){}()

[ivantodorovich]

var x = y
void function (){ }()

This is actually straightforward!
Love it! 😍

[ricardohbin]

other ones :P

~function (){ }()
+function (){ }()
-function (){ }()

[kevincennis]

you guys this is clearly the best and most readable way

var x = y
typeof function (){ }()

[mattbasta]

This one is obviously the most performant:

var x = y
delete function () {} ()

[ghost]

And now I win:

var x = y
new function(){}

Look ma, no call!

[max-mapper]

as much as I enjoy bad humor I am gonna hit my gmail space limit if this keeps goin