JavaScript Best Practices for Beginners

JavaScript Best Practices for Beginners

Arnab Mondal's photo
Arnab Mondal
·

3 min read

JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages used for web development. As a beginner, it's important to learn JavaScript best practices right from the start to write better quality code. Here are some of the most important JavaScript best practices:

Use Semantic Variable and Function Names

Always use descriptive names for variables and functions. For example:

// Good
const firstName = 'John'; 

// Bad
const a = 'John';

// Good
function getUserDetails() {
  // function body
} 

// Bad
function fn1() {
  // function body
}

Using semantic names makes the code more readable and maintainable.

Declare Variables with const and let

Use const for variables that should not be reassigned and let for variables that need to be reassigned. Avoid using var which has functional scope issues.

// Use const for fixed values
const PI = 3.14;

// Use let for values that change
let count = 0; 
count++;

Use Arrow Functions for Short Syntax

Arrow functions provide a shorter syntax compared to regular functions. Use them for simple single line functions.

// Regular function
function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}

// Arrow function  
const add = (a, b) => a + b;

Write Comments for Complex Code

Use comments to explain parts of code that may be difficult to understand. Don't over comment simple code.

// Set date to current date (complex logic)
const date = new Date(Date.UTC(year, month-1, day, 0, 0, 0)); 

// Initialize counter (over comment)
let count = 0;

Avoid Globals, Declare Variables Locally

Avoid polluting the global namespace by declaring variables locally inside functions. Also avoids overwrite issues.

// Bad
const name = 'John';

function greet() {
  console.log('Hello ' + name);  
}

// Good
function greet() {
  const name = 'John';
  console.log('Hello ' + name);
}

Use Strict Mode

Strict mode catches common coding mistakes and throws errors. Include 'use strict' at the top of your JS file or function.

'use strict'; 

const name = 'John';

Bonus Tips

Here are some bonus tips to further improve your JavaScript code:

  • Format code neatly with proper indentation and spacing for readability

  • Modularize code by splitting it into smaller reusable functions/files

  • Remove unused code and variables

  • Use linting tools like ESLint to automatically check code quality

  • Learn to debug code efficiently with breakpoints and console messages

Conclusion

Best practices may seem tedious at first, but they really help in writing maintainable code that is less prone to errors. Following standards set by the community will also make it easier for other developers to understand your code.

JavaScriptBeginner Developers