Airbnb JavaScript Style Guide

What is a style guide?

A style guide is a set of standards that outline how code should be written and organized.
As you read through these guides, you can get an idea for how code is written
at the respective companies.

Why do we need style guides?

For one main reason: Everyone writes code differently.
I may like to do something one way, and you may like to do it a different way.
That’s all fine and dandy as long as we each work on our code.
But what happens when you have 10, 100, or even 1,000 developers all working on the same codebase?
Things get messy very quickly. Style guides are created so new developers can get up to speed on a code base quickly, and
then write code that other developers can understand quickly and easily!

Variables

13.1 Always use const or let 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. eslint: no-undef prefer-const
```
// bad
superPower = new SuperPower();

// good
const superPower = new SuperPower();
```

13.2 Use one const or let declaration per variable. eslint: one-var jscs: disallowMultipleVarDecl

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. You can also step through each declaration with the debugger, instead of jumping through all of them at once.
```
// 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;
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.

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

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

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

  return name;
}

// good
function checkName(hasName) {
  if (hasName === 'test') {
    return false;
  }

  const name = getName();

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

  return name;
}

13.5 Don’t chain variable assignments. eslint: no-multi-assign

Why? Chaining variable assignments creates implicit global variables.

// bad
(function example() {
  // JavaScript interprets this as
  // let a = ( b = ( c = 1 ) );
  // The let keyword only applies to variable a; variables b and c become
  // global variables.
  let a = b = c = 1;
}());

console.log(a); // throws ReferenceError
console.log(b); // 1
console.log(c); // 1

// good
(function example() {
  let a = 1;
  let b = a;
  let c = a;
}());

console.log(a); // throws ReferenceError
console.log(b); // throws ReferenceError
console.log(c); // throws ReferenceError

// the same applies for `const`

13.6 Avoid linebreaks before or after = in an assignment. If your assignment violates max-len, surround the value in parens. eslint operator-linebreak.

Why? Linebreaks surrounding = can obfuscate the value of an assignment.
```
// bad
const foo
  = 'superLongLongLongLongLongLongLongLongString';

// good
const foo = (
  superLongLongLongLongLongLongLongLongFunctionName()
);
```

Comparison Operators & Equality

15.1 Use === and !== over == and !=. eslint: eqeqeq

const a = null;
const b = undefined;

console.log(a == b); // true
console.log(a === b); // false

15.2 Conditional statements such as the if statement evaluate their expression using coercion with the ToBoolean abstract 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 evaluate to false if +0, -0, or NaN, otherwise true
- Strings evaluate to false if an empty string '', otherwise true

15.3 Use braces to create blocks in case and default clauses that contain lexical declarations (e.g. let, const, function, and class). eslint: no-case-declarations

Why? Lexical declarations are visible in the entire switch block but only get initialized when assigned, which only happens when its case is reached. This causes problems when multiple case clauses attempt to define the same thing.

// bad
switch (foo) {
  case 1:
    let x = 1;
    break;
  case 2:
    const y = 2;
    break;
  case 3:
    function f() {
      // ...
    }
    break;
  default:
    class C {}
}

// good
switch (foo) {
  case 1: {
    let x = 1;
    break;
  }
  case 2: {
    const y = 2;
    break;
  }
  case 3: {
    function f() {
      // ...
    }
    break;
  }
  case 4:
    bar();
    break;
  default: {
    class C {}
  }
}

15.4 Ternaries should not be nested and generally be single line expressions. eslint: no-nested-ternary

// bad
const foo = maybe1 > maybe2
  ? "bar"
  : value1 > value2 ? "baz" : null;

// split into 2 separated ternary expressions
const maybeNull = value1 > value2 ? 'baz' : null;

// better
const foo = maybe1 > maybe2
  ? 'bar'
  : maybeNull;

// best
const foo = maybe1 > maybe2 ? 'bar' : maybeNull;

15.5 Avoid unneeded ternary statements. eslint: no-unneeded-ternary

// bad
const foo = a ? a : b;
const bar = c ? true : false;
const baz = c ? false : true;

// good
const foo = a || b;
const bar = !!c;
const baz = !c;

15.6 When mixing operators, enclose them in parentheses. The only exception is the standard arithmetic operators (+, -, *, & /) since their precedence is broadly understood. eslint: no-mixed-operators

Why? This improves readability and clarifies the developer’s intention.

// bad
const foo = a && b < 0 || c > 0 || d + 1 === 0;

// bad
const bar = a ** b - 5 % d;

// bad
// one may be confused into thinking (a || b) && c
if (a || b && c) {
  return d;
}

// good
const foo = (a && b < 0) || c > 0 || (d + 1 === 0);

// good
const bar = (a ** b) - (5 % d);

// good
if (a || (b && c)) {
  return d;
}

// good
const bar = a + b / c * d;

Comments

18.1 Use /** ... */ for multi-line comments.

// bad
// make() returns a new element
// based on the passed in tag name
//
// @param {String} tag
// @return {Element} element
function make(tag) {

  // ...

  return element;
}

// good
/**
 * make() returns a new element
 * based on the passed-in tag name
 */
function make(tag) {

  // ...

  return element;
}

18.2 Use // for single line comments. Place single line comments on a newline above the subject of the comment. Put an empty line before the comment unless it’s on the first line of a block.

// bad
const active = true;  // is current tab

// good
// is current tab
const active = true;

// bad
function getType() {
  console.log('fetching type...');
  // set the default type to 'no type'
  const type = this.type || 'no type';

  return type;
}

// good
function getType() {
  console.log('fetching type...');

  // set the default type to 'no type'
  const type = this.type || 'no type';

  return type;
}

18.3 Start all comments with a space to make it easier to read. eslint: spaced-comment

// bad
//is current tab
const active = true;

// good
// is current tab
const active = true;

// bad
/**
 *make() returns a new element
 *based on the passed-in tag name
 */
function make(tag) {

  // ...

  return element;
}

// good
/**
 * make() returns a new element
 * based on the passed-in tag name
 */
function make(tag) {

  // ...

  return element;
}

18.4 Prefixing your comments with FIXME or TODO helps other developers quickly understand if you're pointing out a problem that needs to be revisited, or if you're suggesting a solution to the problem that needs to be implemented. These are different than regular comments because they are actionable. The actions are FIXME: -- need to figure this out or TODO: -- need to implement.
```
class Calculator extends Abacus {
  constructor() {
    super();

    // FIXME: shouldn’t use a global here
    total = 0;
  }
}
```
```
class Calculator extends Abacus {
  constructor() {
    super();

    // TODO: total should be configurable by an options param
    this.total = 0;
  }
}
```

Whitespace

19.1 Use soft tabs (space character) set to 2 spaces. eslint: indent jscs: validateIndentation

// bad
function foo() {
∙∙∙∙let name;
}

// bad
function bar() {
∙let name;
}

// good
function baz() {
∙∙let name;
}

19.2 Place 1 space before the leading brace. eslint: space-before-blocks jscs: requireSpaceBeforeBlockStatements

// 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',
});

19.3 Set off operators with spaces. eslint: space-infix-ops jscs: requireSpaceBeforeBinaryOperators, requireSpaceAfterBinaryOperators
```
// bad
const x=y+5;

// good
const x = y + 5;
```

19.4 End files with a single newline character. eslint: eol-last

// bad
import { es6 } from './AirbnbStyleGuide';
  // ...
export default es6;

// bad
import { es6 } from './AirbnbStyleGuide';
  // ...
export default es6;↵
↵

// good
import { es6 } from './AirbnbStyleGuide';
  // ...
export default es6;↵

19.5 Leave a blank line after blocks and before the next statement. jscs: requirePaddingNewLinesAfterBlocks

// bad
if (foo) {
  return bar;
}
return baz;

// good
if (foo) {
  return bar;
}

return baz;

19.6 Do not pad your blocks with blank lines. eslint: padded-blocks jscs: disallowPaddingNewlinesInBlocks

// bad
function bar() {

  console.log(foo);

}

// bad
if (baz) {

  console.log(qux);
} else {
  console.log(foo);

}

// good
function bar() {
  console.log(foo);
}

// good
if (baz) {
  console.log(qux);
} else {
  console.log(foo);
}

19.7 Do not add spaces inside parentheses. eslint: space-in-parens jscs: disallowSpacesInsideParentheses

// bad
function bar( foo ) {
  return foo;
}

// good
function bar(foo) {
  return foo;
}

// bad
if ( foo ) {
  console.log(foo);
}

// good
if (foo) {
  console.log(foo);
}

19.8 Do not add spaces inside brackets. eslint: array-bracket-spacing jscs: disallowSpacesInsideArrayBrackets

// bad
const foo = [ 1, 2, 3 ];
console.log(foo[ 0 ]);

// good
const foo = [1, 2, 3];
console.log(foo[0]);

19.10 Add spaces inside curly braces. eslint: object-curly-spacing jscs: requireSpacesInsideObjectBrackets
```
// bad
const foo = {clark: 'kent'};

// good
const foo = { clark: 'kent' };
```

Commas

20.1 Leading commas: Nope. eslint: comma-style jscs: requireCommaBeforeLineBreak

// bad
const story = [
    once
  , upon
  , aTime
];

// good
const story = [
  once,
  upon,
  aTime,
];

// bad
const hero = {
    firstName: 'Ada'
  , lastName: 'Lovelace'
  , birthYear: 1815
  , superPower: 'computers'
};

// good
const hero = {
  firstName: 'Ada',
  lastName: 'Lovelace',
  birthYear: 1815,
  superPower: 'computers',
};

20.2 Additional trailing comma: Yup. eslint: comma-dangle jscs: requireTrailingComma

Why? This leads to cleaner git diffs. Also, transpilers like Babel will remove the additional trailing comma in the transpiled code which means you don’t have to worry about the trailing comma problem in legacy browsers.

// bad - git diff without trailing comma
const hero = {
     firstName: 'Florence',
-    lastName: 'Nightingale'
+    lastName: 'Nightingale',
+    inventorOf: ['coxcomb chart', 'modern nursing']
};

// good - git diff with trailing comma
const hero = {
     firstName: 'Florence',
     lastName: 'Nightingale',
+    inventorOf: ['coxcomb chart', 'modern nursing'],
};

// bad
const hero = {
  firstName: 'Dana',
  lastName: 'Scully'
};

const heroes = [
  'Batman',
  'Superman'
];

// good
const hero = {
  firstName: 'Dana',
  lastName: 'Scully',
};

const heroes = [
  'Batman',
  'Superman',
];

// bad
function createHero(
  firstName,
  lastName,
  inventorOf
) {
  // does nothing
}

// good
function createHero(
  firstName,
  lastName,
  inventorOf,
) {
  // does nothing
}

Naming Conventions

23.1 Avoid single letter names. Be descriptive with your naming. eslint: id-length

// bad
function q() {
  // ...
}

// good
function query() {
  // ...
}

23.2 Use camelCase when naming objects, functions, and instances. eslint: camelcase jscs: requireCamelCaseOrUpperCaseIdentifiers

// bad
const OBJEcttsssss = {};
const this_is_my_object = {};
function c() {}

// good
const thisIsMyObject = {};
function thisIsMyFunction() {}

23.3 Use PascalCase only when naming constructors or classes. eslint: new-cap jscs: requireCapitalizedConstructors

// bad
function user(options) {
  this.name = options.name;
}

const bad = new user({
  name: 'nope',
});

// good
class User {
  constructor(options) {
    this.name = options.name;
  }
}

const good = new User({
  name: 'yup',
});

23.4 Do not use trailing or leading underscores. eslint: no-underscore-dangle jscs: disallowDanglingUnderscores

Why? JavaScript does not have the concept of privacy in terms of properties or methods. Although a leading underscore is a common convention to mean “private”, in fact, these properties are fully public, and as such, are part of your public API contract. This convention might lead developers to wrongly think that a change won’t count as breaking, or that tests aren’t needed. tl;dr: if you want something to be “private”, it must not be observably present.
```
// bad
this.__firstName__ = 'Panda';
this.firstName_ = 'Panda';
this._firstName = 'Panda';

// good
this.firstName = 'Panda';

// good, in environments where WeakMaps are available
// see https://kangax.github.io/compat-table/es6/#test-WeakMap
const firstNames = new WeakMap();
firstNames.set(this, 'Panda');
```

23.5 A base filename should exactly match the name of its default export.

// file 1 contents
class CheckBox {
  // ...
}
export default CheckBox;

// in some other file
// bad
import CheckBox from './checkBox'; // PascalCase import/export, camelCase filename

// bad
import CheckBox from './check_box'; // PascalCase import/export, snake_case filename

// good
import CheckBox from './CheckBox'; // PascalCase export/import/filename

const MAX_FILE_SIZE = 1024;

Accessors

24.1 Do not use JavaScript getters/setters as they cause unexpected side effects and are harder to test, maintain, and reason about. Instead, if you do make accessor functions, use getVal() and setVal('hello').

// bad
class Dragon {
  get age() {
    // ...
  }

  set age(value) {
    // ...
  }
}

// good
class Dragon {
  getAge() {
    // ...
  }

  setAge(value) {
    // ...
  }
}

24.2 If the property/method is a boolean, use isVal() or hasVal().

// bad
if (!dragon.age()) {
  return false;
}

// good
if (!dragon.hasAge()) {
  return false;
}

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 1,592 Commits
css-in-javascript		css-in-javascript
linters		linters
packages		packages
react		react
.editorconfig		.editorconfig
.gitignore		.gitignore
.npmrc		.npmrc
.travis.yml		.travis.yml
LICENSE.md		LICENSE.md
README.md		README.md
package.json		package.json

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Airbnb JavaScript Style Guide

What is a style guide?

Why do we need style guides?

Variables

Comparison Operators & Equality

Comments

Whitespace

Commas

Naming Conventions

Accessors

About

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Packages

Contributors

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Repository files navigation

Airbnb JavaScript Style Guide

What is a style guide?

Why do we need style guides?

Variables

Comparison Operators & Equality

Comments

Whitespace

Commas

Naming Conventions

Accessors

About

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