Cognitive Complexity

Cognitive Complexity is a measure of how difficult a unit of code is to intuitively understand. Unlike Cyclomatic Complexity, which determines how difficult your code will be to test, Cognitive Complexity tells you how difficult your code will be to read and comprehend.

A method's cognitive complexity is based on a few simple rules:

• Code is not considered more complex when it uses shorthand that the language provides for collapsing multiple statements into one
• Code is considered more complex for each "break in the linear flow of the code"
• Code is considered more complex when "flow breaking structures are nested"

Further reading

• Cognitive Complexity docs
• Cognitive Complexity: A new way of measuring understandability

Cognitive Complexity

Cognitive Complexity is a measure of how difficult a unit of code is to intuitively understand. Unlike Cyclomatic Complexity, which determines how difficult your code will be to test, Cognitive Complexity tells you how difficult your code will be to read and comprehend.

A method's cognitive complexity is based on a few simple rules:

• Code is not considered more complex when it uses shorthand that the language provides for collapsing multiple statements into one
• Code is considered more complex for each "break in the linear flow of the code"
• Code is considered more complex when "flow breaking structures are nested"

Further reading

• Cognitive Complexity docs
• Cognitive Complexity: A new way of measuring understandability

Cognitive Complexity

Cognitive Complexity is a measure of how difficult a unit of code is to intuitively understand. Unlike Cyclomatic Complexity, which determines how difficult your code will be to test, Cognitive Complexity tells you how difficult your code will be to read and comprehend.

A method's cognitive complexity is based on a few simple rules:

• Code is not considered more complex when it uses shorthand that the language provides for collapsing multiple statements into one
• Code is considered more complex for each "break in the linear flow of the code"
• Code is considered more complex when "flow breaking structures are nested"

Further reading

• Cognitive Complexity docs
• Cognitive Complexity: A new way of measuring understandability

require JSDoc comments (require-jsdoc)

JSDoc is a JavaScript API documentation generator. It uses specially-formatted comments inside of code to generate API documentation automatically. For example, this is what a JSDoc comment looks like for a function:

/**
 * Adds two numbers together.
 * @param {int} num1 The first number.
 * @param {int} num2 The second number.
 * @returns {int} The sum of the two numbers.
 */
function sum(num1, num2) {
    return num1 + num2;
}

Some style guides require JSDoc comments for all functions as a way of explaining function behavior.

Rule Details

This rule requires JSDoc comments for specified nodes. Supported nodes:

• "FunctionDeclaration"
• "ClassDeclaration"
• "MethodDefinition"
• "ArrowFunctionExpression"

Options

This rule has a single object option:

• "require" requires JSDoc comments for the specified nodes

Default option settings are:

{
    "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
        "require": {
            "FunctionDeclaration": true,
            "MethodDefinition": false,
            "ClassDeclaration": false,
            "ArrowFunctionExpression": false
        }
    }]
}

require

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

function foo() {
    return 10;
}

var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

class Test{
    getDate(){}
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
function foo() {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns test + 10
 * @params {int} test - some number
 * @returns {int} sum of test and 10
 */
var foo = (test) => {
    return test + 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = function() {
    return 10;
}

var array = [1,2,3];
array.filter(function(item) {
    return item > 2;
});

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
class Test{
    /**
    * returns the date
    */
    getDate(){}
}

setTimeout(() => {}, 10); // since it's an anonymous arrow function

When Not To Use It

If you do not require JSDoc for your functions, then you can leave this rule off.

Related Rules

• [valid-jsdoc](valid-jsdoc.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

require JSDoc comments (require-jsdoc)

JSDoc is a JavaScript API documentation generator. It uses specially-formatted comments inside of code to generate API documentation automatically. For example, this is what a JSDoc comment looks like for a function:

/**
 * Adds two numbers together.
 * @param {int} num1 The first number.
 * @param {int} num2 The second number.
 * @returns {int} The sum of the two numbers.
 */
function sum(num1, num2) {
    return num1 + num2;
}

Some style guides require JSDoc comments for all functions as a way of explaining function behavior.

Rule Details

This rule requires JSDoc comments for specified nodes. Supported nodes:

• "FunctionDeclaration"
• "ClassDeclaration"
• "MethodDefinition"
• "ArrowFunctionExpression"

Options

This rule has a single object option:

• "require" requires JSDoc comments for the specified nodes

Default option settings are:

{
    "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
        "require": {
            "FunctionDeclaration": true,
            "MethodDefinition": false,
            "ClassDeclaration": false,
            "ArrowFunctionExpression": false
        }
    }]
}

require

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

function foo() {
    return 10;
}

var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

class Test{
    getDate(){}
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
function foo() {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns test + 10
 * @params {int} test - some number
 * @returns {int} sum of test and 10
 */
var foo = (test) => {
    return test + 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = function() {
    return 10;
}

var array = [1,2,3];
array.filter(function(item) {
    return item > 2;
});

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
class Test{
    /**
    * returns the date
    */
    getDate(){}
}

setTimeout(() => {}, 10); // since it's an anonymous arrow function

When Not To Use It

If you do not require JSDoc for your functions, then you can leave this rule off.

Related Rules

• [valid-jsdoc](valid-jsdoc.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

require JSDoc comments (require-jsdoc)

JSDoc is a JavaScript API documentation generator. It uses specially-formatted comments inside of code to generate API documentation automatically. For example, this is what a JSDoc comment looks like for a function:

/**
 * Adds two numbers together.
 * @param {int} num1 The first number.
 * @param {int} num2 The second number.
 * @returns {int} The sum of the two numbers.
 */
function sum(num1, num2) {
    return num1 + num2;
}

Some style guides require JSDoc comments for all functions as a way of explaining function behavior.

Rule Details

This rule requires JSDoc comments for specified nodes. Supported nodes:

• "FunctionDeclaration"
• "ClassDeclaration"
• "MethodDefinition"
• "ArrowFunctionExpression"

Options

This rule has a single object option:

• "require" requires JSDoc comments for the specified nodes

Default option settings are:

{
    "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
        "require": {
            "FunctionDeclaration": true,
            "MethodDefinition": false,
            "ClassDeclaration": false,
            "ArrowFunctionExpression": false
        }
    }]
}

require

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

function foo() {
    return 10;
}

var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

class Test{
    getDate(){}
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
function foo() {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns test + 10
 * @params {int} test - some number
 * @returns {int} sum of test and 10
 */
var foo = (test) => {
    return test + 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = function() {
    return 10;
}

var array = [1,2,3];
array.filter(function(item) {
    return item > 2;
});

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
class Test{
    /**
    * returns the date
    */
    getDate(){}
}

setTimeout(() => {}, 10); // since it's an anonymous arrow function

When Not To Use It

If you do not require JSDoc for your functions, then you can leave this rule off.

Related Rules

• [valid-jsdoc](valid-jsdoc.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

require JSDoc comments (require-jsdoc)

JSDoc is a JavaScript API documentation generator. It uses specially-formatted comments inside of code to generate API documentation automatically. For example, this is what a JSDoc comment looks like for a function:

/**
 * Adds two numbers together.
 * @param {int} num1 The first number.
 * @param {int} num2 The second number.
 * @returns {int} The sum of the two numbers.
 */
function sum(num1, num2) {
    return num1 + num2;
}

Some style guides require JSDoc comments for all functions as a way of explaining function behavior.

Rule Details

This rule requires JSDoc comments for specified nodes. Supported nodes:

• "FunctionDeclaration"
• "ClassDeclaration"
• "MethodDefinition"
• "ArrowFunctionExpression"

Options

This rule has a single object option:

• "require" requires JSDoc comments for the specified nodes

Default option settings are:

{
    "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
        "require": {
            "FunctionDeclaration": true,
            "MethodDefinition": false,
            "ClassDeclaration": false,
            "ArrowFunctionExpression": false
        }
    }]
}

require

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

function foo() {
    return 10;
}

var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

class Test{
    getDate(){}
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
function foo() {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns test + 10
 * @params {int} test - some number
 * @returns {int} sum of test and 10
 */
var foo = (test) => {
    return test + 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = function() {
    return 10;
}

var array = [1,2,3];
array.filter(function(item) {
    return item > 2;
});

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
class Test{
    /**
    * returns the date
    */
    getDate(){}
}

setTimeout(() => {}, 10); // since it's an anonymous arrow function

When Not To Use It

If you do not require JSDoc for your functions, then you can leave this rule off.

Related Rules

• [valid-jsdoc](valid-jsdoc.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

require JSDoc comments (require-jsdoc)

JSDoc is a JavaScript API documentation generator. It uses specially-formatted comments inside of code to generate API documentation automatically. For example, this is what a JSDoc comment looks like for a function:

/**
 * Adds two numbers together.
 * @param {int} num1 The first number.
 * @param {int} num2 The second number.
 * @returns {int} The sum of the two numbers.
 */
function sum(num1, num2) {
    return num1 + num2;
}

Some style guides require JSDoc comments for all functions as a way of explaining function behavior.

Rule Details

This rule requires JSDoc comments for specified nodes. Supported nodes:

• "FunctionDeclaration"
• "ClassDeclaration"
• "MethodDefinition"
• "ArrowFunctionExpression"

Options

This rule has a single object option:

• "require" requires JSDoc comments for the specified nodes

Default option settings are:

{
    "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
        "require": {
            "FunctionDeclaration": true,
            "MethodDefinition": false,
            "ClassDeclaration": false,
            "ArrowFunctionExpression": false
        }
    }]
}

require

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

function foo() {
    return 10;
}

var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

class Test{
    getDate(){}
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
function foo() {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns test + 10
 * @params {int} test - some number
 * @returns {int} sum of test and 10
 */
var foo = (test) => {
    return test + 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = function() {
    return 10;
}

var array = [1,2,3];
array.filter(function(item) {
    return item > 2;
});

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
class Test{
    /**
    * returns the date
    */
    getDate(){}
}

setTimeout(() => {}, 10); // since it's an anonymous arrow function

When Not To Use It

If you do not require JSDoc for your functions, then you can leave this rule off.

Related Rules

• [valid-jsdoc](valid-jsdoc.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

require JSDoc comments (require-jsdoc)

JSDoc is a JavaScript API documentation generator. It uses specially-formatted comments inside of code to generate API documentation automatically. For example, this is what a JSDoc comment looks like for a function:

/**
 * Adds two numbers together.
 * @param {int} num1 The first number.
 * @param {int} num2 The second number.
 * @returns {int} The sum of the two numbers.
 */
function sum(num1, num2) {
    return num1 + num2;
}

Some style guides require JSDoc comments for all functions as a way of explaining function behavior.

Rule Details

This rule requires JSDoc comments for specified nodes. Supported nodes:

• "FunctionDeclaration"
• "ClassDeclaration"
• "MethodDefinition"
• "ArrowFunctionExpression"

Options

This rule has a single object option:

• "require" requires JSDoc comments for the specified nodes

Default option settings are:

{
    "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
        "require": {
            "FunctionDeclaration": true,
            "MethodDefinition": false,
            "ClassDeclaration": false,
            "ArrowFunctionExpression": false
        }
    }]
}

require

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

function foo() {
    return 10;
}

var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

class Test{
    getDate(){}
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
function foo() {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns test + 10
 * @params {int} test - some number
 * @returns {int} sum of test and 10
 */
var foo = (test) => {
    return test + 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = function() {
    return 10;
}

var array = [1,2,3];
array.filter(function(item) {
    return item > 2;
});

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
class Test{
    /**
    * returns the date
    */
    getDate(){}
}

setTimeout(() => {}, 10); // since it's an anonymous arrow function

When Not To Use It

If you do not require JSDoc for your functions, then you can leave this rule off.

Related Rules

• [valid-jsdoc](valid-jsdoc.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

require JSDoc comments (require-jsdoc)

JSDoc is a JavaScript API documentation generator. It uses specially-formatted comments inside of code to generate API documentation automatically. For example, this is what a JSDoc comment looks like for a function:

/**
 * Adds two numbers together.
 * @param {int} num1 The first number.
 * @param {int} num2 The second number.
 * @returns {int} The sum of the two numbers.
 */
function sum(num1, num2) {
    return num1 + num2;
}

Some style guides require JSDoc comments for all functions as a way of explaining function behavior.

Rule Details

This rule requires JSDoc comments for specified nodes. Supported nodes:

• "FunctionDeclaration"
• "ClassDeclaration"
• "MethodDefinition"
• "ArrowFunctionExpression"

Options

This rule has a single object option:

• "require" requires JSDoc comments for the specified nodes

Default option settings are:

{
    "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
        "require": {
            "FunctionDeclaration": true,
            "MethodDefinition": false,
            "ClassDeclaration": false,
            "ArrowFunctionExpression": false
        }
    }]
}

require

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

function foo() {
    return 10;
}

var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

class Test{
    getDate(){}
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
function foo() {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns test + 10
 * @params {int} test - some number
 * @returns {int} sum of test and 10
 */
var foo = (test) => {
    return test + 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = function() {
    return 10;
}

var array = [1,2,3];
array.filter(function(item) {
    return item > 2;
});

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
class Test{
    /**
    * returns the date
    */
    getDate(){}
}

setTimeout(() => {}, 10); // since it's an anonymous arrow function

When Not To Use It

If you do not require JSDoc for your functions, then you can leave this rule off.

Related Rules

• [valid-jsdoc](valid-jsdoc.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

require JSDoc comments (require-jsdoc)

JSDoc is a JavaScript API documentation generator. It uses specially-formatted comments inside of code to generate API documentation automatically. For example, this is what a JSDoc comment looks like for a function:

/**
 * Adds two numbers together.
 * @param {int} num1 The first number.
 * @param {int} num2 The second number.
 * @returns {int} The sum of the two numbers.
 */
function sum(num1, num2) {
    return num1 + num2;
}

Some style guides require JSDoc comments for all functions as a way of explaining function behavior.

Rule Details

This rule requires JSDoc comments for specified nodes. Supported nodes:

• "FunctionDeclaration"
• "ClassDeclaration"
• "MethodDefinition"
• "ArrowFunctionExpression"

Options

This rule has a single object option:

• "require" requires JSDoc comments for the specified nodes

Default option settings are:

{
    "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
        "require": {
            "FunctionDeclaration": true,
            "MethodDefinition": false,
            "ClassDeclaration": false,
            "ArrowFunctionExpression": false
        }
    }]
}

require

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

function foo() {
    return 10;
}

var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

class Test{
    getDate(){}
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "require": { "FunctionDeclaration": true, "MethodDefinition": true, "ClassDeclaration": true, "ArrowFunctionExpression": true } } option:

/*eslint "require-jsdoc": ["error", {
    "require": {
        "FunctionDeclaration": true,
        "MethodDefinition": true,
        "ClassDeclaration": true
    }
}]*/

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
function foo() {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns test + 10
 * @params {int} test - some number
 * @returns {int} sum of test and 10
 */
var foo = (test) => {
    return test + 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = () => {
    return 10;
}

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
var foo = function() {
    return 10;
}

var array = [1,2,3];
array.filter(function(item) {
    return item > 2;
});

/**
 * It returns 10
 */
class Test{
    /**
    * returns the date
    */
    getDate(){}
}

setTimeout(() => {}, 10); // since it's an anonymous arrow function

When Not To Use It

If you do not require JSDoc for your functions, then you can leave this rule off.

Related Rules

• [valid-jsdoc](valid-jsdoc.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

Disallow Use of undefined Variable (no-undefined)

The undefined variable is unique in JavaScript because it is actually a property of the global object. As such, in ECMAScript 3 it was possible to overwrite the value of undefined. While ECMAScript 5 disallows overwriting undefined, it's still possible to shadow undefined, such as:

function doSomething(data) {
    var undefined = "hi";

    // doesn't do what you think it does
    if (data === undefined) {
        // ...
    }

}

This represents a problem for undefined that doesn't exist for null, which is a keyword and primitive value that can neither be overwritten nor shadowed.

All uninitialized variables automatically get the value of undefined:

var foo;

console.log(foo === undefined);     // true (assuming no shadowing)

For this reason, it's not necessary to explicitly initialize a variable to undefined.

Taking all of this into account, some style guides forbid the use of undefined, recommending instead:

• Variables that should be undefined are simply left uninitialized.
• Checking if a value is undefined should be done with typeof.
• Using the void operator to generate the value of undefined if necessary.

Rule Details

This rule aims to eliminate the use of undefined, and as such, generates a warning whenever it is used.

Examples of incorrect code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = undefined;

var undefined = "foo";

if (foo === undefined) {
    // ...
}

function foo(undefined) {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = void 0;

var Undefined = "foo";

if (typeof foo === "undefined") {
    // ...
}

global.undefined = "foo";

When Not To Use It

If you want to allow the use of undefined in your code, then you can safely turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• undefined - JavaScript | MDN
• Understanding JavaScript’s ‘undefined’ | JavaScript, JavaScript...
• ECMA262 edition 5.1 §15.1.1.3: undefined

Related Rules

• [no-undef-init](no-undef-init.md)
• [no-void](no-void.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

Disallow Use of undefined Variable (no-undefined)

The undefined variable is unique in JavaScript because it is actually a property of the global object. As such, in ECMAScript 3 it was possible to overwrite the value of undefined. While ECMAScript 5 disallows overwriting undefined, it's still possible to shadow undefined, such as:

function doSomething(data) {
    var undefined = "hi";

    // doesn't do what you think it does
    if (data === undefined) {
        // ...
    }

}

This represents a problem for undefined that doesn't exist for null, which is a keyword and primitive value that can neither be overwritten nor shadowed.

All uninitialized variables automatically get the value of undefined:

var foo;

console.log(foo === undefined);     // true (assuming no shadowing)

For this reason, it's not necessary to explicitly initialize a variable to undefined.

Taking all of this into account, some style guides forbid the use of undefined, recommending instead:

• Variables that should be undefined are simply left uninitialized.
• Checking if a value is undefined should be done with typeof.
• Using the void operator to generate the value of undefined if necessary.

Rule Details

This rule aims to eliminate the use of undefined, and as such, generates a warning whenever it is used.

Examples of incorrect code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = undefined;

var undefined = "foo";

if (foo === undefined) {
    // ...
}

function foo(undefined) {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = void 0;

var Undefined = "foo";

if (typeof foo === "undefined") {
    // ...
}

global.undefined = "foo";

When Not To Use It

If you want to allow the use of undefined in your code, then you can safely turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• undefined - JavaScript | MDN
• Understanding JavaScript’s ‘undefined’ | JavaScript, JavaScript...
• ECMA262 edition 5.1 §15.1.1.3: undefined

Related Rules

• [no-undef-init](no-undef-init.md)
• [no-void](no-void.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

Disallow Use of undefined Variable (no-undefined)

The undefined variable is unique in JavaScript because it is actually a property of the global object. As such, in ECMAScript 3 it was possible to overwrite the value of undefined. While ECMAScript 5 disallows overwriting undefined, it's still possible to shadow undefined, such as:

function doSomething(data) {
    var undefined = "hi";

    // doesn't do what you think it does
    if (data === undefined) {
        // ...
    }

}

This represents a problem for undefined that doesn't exist for null, which is a keyword and primitive value that can neither be overwritten nor shadowed.

All uninitialized variables automatically get the value of undefined:

var foo;

console.log(foo === undefined);     // true (assuming no shadowing)

For this reason, it's not necessary to explicitly initialize a variable to undefined.

Taking all of this into account, some style guides forbid the use of undefined, recommending instead:

• Variables that should be undefined are simply left uninitialized.
• Checking if a value is undefined should be done with typeof.
• Using the void operator to generate the value of undefined if necessary.

Rule Details

This rule aims to eliminate the use of undefined, and as such, generates a warning whenever it is used.

Examples of incorrect code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = undefined;

var undefined = "foo";

if (foo === undefined) {
    // ...
}

function foo(undefined) {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = void 0;

var Undefined = "foo";

if (typeof foo === "undefined") {
    // ...
}

global.undefined = "foo";

When Not To Use It

If you want to allow the use of undefined in your code, then you can safely turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• undefined - JavaScript | MDN
• Understanding JavaScript’s ‘undefined’ | JavaScript, JavaScript...
• ECMA262 edition 5.1 §15.1.1.3: undefined

Related Rules

• [no-undef-init](no-undef-init.md)
• [no-void](no-void.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

Disallow Use of undefined Variable (no-undefined)

The undefined variable is unique in JavaScript because it is actually a property of the global object. As such, in ECMAScript 3 it was possible to overwrite the value of undefined. While ECMAScript 5 disallows overwriting undefined, it's still possible to shadow undefined, such as:

function doSomething(data) {
    var undefined = "hi";

    // doesn't do what you think it does
    if (data === undefined) {
        // ...
    }

}

This represents a problem for undefined that doesn't exist for null, which is a keyword and primitive value that can neither be overwritten nor shadowed.

All uninitialized variables automatically get the value of undefined:

var foo;

console.log(foo === undefined);     // true (assuming no shadowing)

For this reason, it's not necessary to explicitly initialize a variable to undefined.

Taking all of this into account, some style guides forbid the use of undefined, recommending instead:

• Variables that should be undefined are simply left uninitialized.
• Checking if a value is undefined should be done with typeof.
• Using the void operator to generate the value of undefined if necessary.

Rule Details

This rule aims to eliminate the use of undefined, and as such, generates a warning whenever it is used.

Examples of incorrect code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = undefined;

var undefined = "foo";

if (foo === undefined) {
    // ...
}

function foo(undefined) {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = void 0;

var Undefined = "foo";

if (typeof foo === "undefined") {
    // ...
}

global.undefined = "foo";

When Not To Use It

If you want to allow the use of undefined in your code, then you can safely turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• undefined - JavaScript | MDN
• Understanding JavaScript’s ‘undefined’ | JavaScript, JavaScript...
• ECMA262 edition 5.1 §15.1.1.3: undefined

Related Rules

• [no-undef-init](no-undef-init.md)
• [no-void](no-void.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

Disallow Use of undefined Variable (no-undefined)

The undefined variable is unique in JavaScript because it is actually a property of the global object. As such, in ECMAScript 3 it was possible to overwrite the value of undefined. While ECMAScript 5 disallows overwriting undefined, it's still possible to shadow undefined, such as:

function doSomething(data) {
    var undefined = "hi";

    // doesn't do what you think it does
    if (data === undefined) {
        // ...
    }

}

This represents a problem for undefined that doesn't exist for null, which is a keyword and primitive value that can neither be overwritten nor shadowed.

All uninitialized variables automatically get the value of undefined:

var foo;

console.log(foo === undefined);     // true (assuming no shadowing)

For this reason, it's not necessary to explicitly initialize a variable to undefined.

Taking all of this into account, some style guides forbid the use of undefined, recommending instead:

• Variables that should be undefined are simply left uninitialized.
• Checking if a value is undefined should be done with typeof.
• Using the void operator to generate the value of undefined if necessary.

Rule Details

This rule aims to eliminate the use of undefined, and as such, generates a warning whenever it is used.

Examples of incorrect code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = undefined;

var undefined = "foo";

if (foo === undefined) {
    // ...
}

function foo(undefined) {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = void 0;

var Undefined = "foo";

if (typeof foo === "undefined") {
    // ...
}

global.undefined = "foo";

When Not To Use It

If you want to allow the use of undefined in your code, then you can safely turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• undefined - JavaScript | MDN
• Understanding JavaScript’s ‘undefined’ | JavaScript, JavaScript...
• ECMA262 edition 5.1 §15.1.1.3: undefined

Related Rules

• [no-undef-init](no-undef-init.md)
• [no-void](no-void.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

Disallow Use of undefined Variable (no-undefined)

The undefined variable is unique in JavaScript because it is actually a property of the global object. As such, in ECMAScript 3 it was possible to overwrite the value of undefined. While ECMAScript 5 disallows overwriting undefined, it's still possible to shadow undefined, such as:

function doSomething(data) {
    var undefined = "hi";

    // doesn't do what you think it does
    if (data === undefined) {
        // ...
    }

}

This represents a problem for undefined that doesn't exist for null, which is a keyword and primitive value that can neither be overwritten nor shadowed.

All uninitialized variables automatically get the value of undefined:

var foo;

console.log(foo === undefined);     // true (assuming no shadowing)

For this reason, it's not necessary to explicitly initialize a variable to undefined.

Taking all of this into account, some style guides forbid the use of undefined, recommending instead:

• Variables that should be undefined are simply left uninitialized.
• Checking if a value is undefined should be done with typeof.
• Using the void operator to generate the value of undefined if necessary.

Rule Details

This rule aims to eliminate the use of undefined, and as such, generates a warning whenever it is used.

Examples of incorrect code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = undefined;

var undefined = "foo";

if (foo === undefined) {
    // ...
}

function foo(undefined) {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = void 0;

var Undefined = "foo";

if (typeof foo === "undefined") {
    // ...
}

global.undefined = "foo";

When Not To Use It

If you want to allow the use of undefined in your code, then you can safely turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• undefined - JavaScript | MDN
• Understanding JavaScript’s ‘undefined’ | JavaScript, JavaScript...
• ECMA262 edition 5.1 §15.1.1.3: undefined

Related Rules

• [no-undef-init](no-undef-init.md)
• [no-void](no-void.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

Disallow Use of undefined Variable (no-undefined)

The undefined variable is unique in JavaScript because it is actually a property of the global object. As such, in ECMAScript 3 it was possible to overwrite the value of undefined. While ECMAScript 5 disallows overwriting undefined, it's still possible to shadow undefined, such as:

function doSomething(data) {
    var undefined = "hi";

    // doesn't do what you think it does
    if (data === undefined) {
        // ...
    }

}

This represents a problem for undefined that doesn't exist for null, which is a keyword and primitive value that can neither be overwritten nor shadowed.

All uninitialized variables automatically get the value of undefined:

var foo;

console.log(foo === undefined);     // true (assuming no shadowing)

For this reason, it's not necessary to explicitly initialize a variable to undefined.

Taking all of this into account, some style guides forbid the use of undefined, recommending instead:

• Variables that should be undefined are simply left uninitialized.
• Checking if a value is undefined should be done with typeof.
• Using the void operator to generate the value of undefined if necessary.

Rule Details

This rule aims to eliminate the use of undefined, and as such, generates a warning whenever it is used.

Examples of incorrect code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = undefined;

var undefined = "foo";

if (foo === undefined) {
    // ...
}

function foo(undefined) {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = void 0;

var Undefined = "foo";

if (typeof foo === "undefined") {
    // ...
}

global.undefined = "foo";

When Not To Use It

If you want to allow the use of undefined in your code, then you can safely turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• undefined - JavaScript | MDN
• Understanding JavaScript’s ‘undefined’ | JavaScript, JavaScript...
• ECMA262 edition 5.1 §15.1.1.3: undefined

Related Rules

• [no-undef-init](no-undef-init.md)
• [no-void](no-void.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

Disallow Use of undefined Variable (no-undefined)

The undefined variable is unique in JavaScript because it is actually a property of the global object. As such, in ECMAScript 3 it was possible to overwrite the value of undefined. While ECMAScript 5 disallows overwriting undefined, it's still possible to shadow undefined, such as:

function doSomething(data) {
    var undefined = "hi";

    // doesn't do what you think it does
    if (data === undefined) {
        // ...
    }

}

This represents a problem for undefined that doesn't exist for null, which is a keyword and primitive value that can neither be overwritten nor shadowed.

All uninitialized variables automatically get the value of undefined:

var foo;

console.log(foo === undefined);     // true (assuming no shadowing)

For this reason, it's not necessary to explicitly initialize a variable to undefined.

Taking all of this into account, some style guides forbid the use of undefined, recommending instead:

• Variables that should be undefined are simply left uninitialized.
• Checking if a value is undefined should be done with typeof.
• Using the void operator to generate the value of undefined if necessary.

Rule Details

This rule aims to eliminate the use of undefined, and as such, generates a warning whenever it is used.

Examples of incorrect code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = undefined;

var undefined = "foo";

if (foo === undefined) {
    // ...
}

function foo(undefined) {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule:

/*eslint no-undefined: "error"*/

var foo = void 0;

var Undefined = "foo";

if (typeof foo === "undefined") {
    // ...
}

global.undefined = "foo";

When Not To Use It

If you want to allow the use of undefined in your code, then you can safely turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• undefined - JavaScript | MDN
• Understanding JavaScript’s ‘undefined’ | JavaScript, JavaScript...
• ECMA262 edition 5.1 §15.1.1.3: undefined

Related Rules

• [no-undef-init](no-undef-init.md)
• [no-void](no-void.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/