Line length Open
On a side note, while comments seem an appropriate solution, they will inevitably become stale and out of touch with the API. It's best to leave this kind of information to the official documentation or source code, instead.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
As with most things, there is no universal best practice here. Even though I often find boolean arguments hard to read, I understand there are cases where you might want to use them.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
excerpt: Boolean traps can cause readability and maintainability issues in your code. Learn what they are, how to spot and fix them in this article.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
The second example is also hard to decipher without looking at some documentation. Here, the constructor expects a boolean argument that might mean literally anything. Would you have guessed that it's a flag indicating if the user should have administrative privileges? Probably not. The point is there is no way to tell what this argument means without looking at the documentation.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
The first example suffers in terms of readability due to an obvious contradiction. A function named `reload` expects a boolean argument. `false` in this context must surely mean that no reloading should happen. Except that might not be the case. This argument might be anything from performing the operation immediately (i.e. `immediate`) to some side effect such as animation to even the no-op we suspected. I've stumbled upon similar cases of ambiguous arguments in many libraries in the past.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Trailing punctuation in header Open
## Red flag or red herring?- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD026 - Trailing punctuation in header
Tags: headers
Aliases: no-trailing-punctuation
Parameters: punctuation (string; default ".,;:!?")
This rule is triggered on any header that has a punctuation character as the last character in the line:
# This is a header.To fix this, remove any trailing punctuation:
# This is a headerNote: The punctuation parameter can be used to specify what characters class
as punctuation at the end of the header. For example, you can set it to
'.,;:!' to allow headers with question marks in them, such as might be used
in an FAQ.
Line length Open
I recently came across the concept of **Boolean traps** and it instantly resonated with me due to the volume of Google searches I've performed because of it. In this article, I'll try to explain what it is, why it's somewhat of an anti-pattern, how to spot it in your code and ways to refactor around it.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
The **trap** in the name might throw you off if you stick to this definition, but it serves its purpose. Let's look at two simple examples to get a better grasp of things:- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
At this point, you might be asking yourself why this is actually bad. Reading through the documentation is expected. After all, that's what it's there for. Except this starts to become a waste of time on return visits. If you're working with a library and look up a boolean argument over and over because it's not obvious, it becomes a bit of a hassle.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
Moreover, code is read many times by many people. The author might be familiar with the library and API and have no need for documentation altogether. But the next person who comes along will have to visit the same documentation and figure it out for themselves. That harms readability and wastes tons of time in the long run, due to a single boolean argument.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
First header should be a top level header Open
## Boolean trap - What's in a name?- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD002 - First header should be a top level header
Tags: headers
Aliases: first-header-h1
Parameters: level (number; default 1)
This rule is triggered when the first header in the document isn't a h1 header:
## This isn't a H1 header
### Another headerThe first header in the document should be a h1 header:
# Start with a H1 header
## Then use a H2 for subsectionsLine length Open
Without huge changes to the API, we could have avoided the boolean trap altogether. All we needed was a plain JavaScript object. This also has the added benefit of making the function more extensible in the future. Objects are quite flexible, so if we want to add a second boolean (e.g. `animate` for `reload` or `active` for `User`), we need only add a key to the object.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
A bonus point here is the potential of further reducing readability by increasing cognitive load. There are valid use-cases for boolean arguments, but there are situations where the name of the function, being in itself a negative, with a negative (i.e. falsy) value makes the reader stop and pause to parse what's happening. For example:- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
To summarize, boolean arguments in functions can be the source of a lot of wasted time and the cause for low code readability if used incorrectly. They're sometimes considered an anti-pattern as they increase cognitive load and reduce maintainability of shared code. Luckily, they're very easy to spot and fix using plain JavaScript option objects.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
We've already established what a boolean trap is and why it's bad. But how do we fix it? Even if we can spot the anti-pattern, it might be hard to change it before it affects a lot of code and developers. Some languages support named arguments and that usually solves the problem quite easily. JavaScript on the other hand doesn't, but there's always the option to pass an options object.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
In this example, it's pretty straightforward what `true` does. Notice that the double negative from before might still make this slightly hard to read, but it makes sense to use a boolean in this context. Why? Well, it's essentially a setter function and passing the actual value of the property isn't such a bad idea.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Line length Open
While the name **Boolean trap** might be unfamiliar to some, I'm pretty certain the concept it represents isn't. The simplest form of a boolean trap is a function that takes a boolean argument.- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD013 - Line length
Tags: line_length
Aliases: line-length Parameters: linelength, codeblocks, tables (number; default 80, boolean; default true)
This rule is triggered when there are lines that are longer than the configured line length (default: 80 characters). To fix this, split the line up into multiple lines.
This rule has an exception where there is no whitespace beyond the configured line length. This allows you to still include items such as long URLs without being forced to break them in the middle.
You also have the option to exclude this rule for code blocks and tables. To
do this, set the code_blocks and/or tables parameters to false.
Code blocks are included in this rule by default since it is often a requirement for document readability, and tentatively compatible with code rules. Still, some languages do not lend themselves to short lines.
Trailing punctuation in header Open
## Boolean trap - What's in a name?- Read upRead up
- Exclude checks
MD026 - Trailing punctuation in header
Tags: headers
Aliases: no-trailing-punctuation
Parameters: punctuation (string; default ".,;:!?")
This rule is triggered on any header that has a punctuation character as the last character in the line:
# This is a header.To fix this, remove any trailing punctuation:
# This is a headerNote: The punctuation parameter can be used to specify what characters class
as punctuation at the end of the header. For example, you can set it to
'.,;:!' to allow headers with question marks in them, such as might be used
in an FAQ.