enforce a maximum line length (max-len)

Very long lines of code in any language can be difficult to read. In order to aid in readability and maintainability many coders have developed a convention to limit lines of code to X number of characters (traditionally 80 characters).

var foo = { "bar": "This is a bar.", "baz": { "qux": "This is a qux" }, "difficult": "to read" }; // very long

Rule Details

This rule enforces a maximum line length to increase code readability and maintainability. The length of a line is defined as the number of Unicode characters in the line.

Options

This rule has a number or object option:

• "code" (default 80) enforces a maximum line length
• "tabWidth" (default 4) specifies the character width for tab characters
• "comments" enforces a maximum line length for comments; defaults to value of code
• "ignorePattern" ignores lines matching a regular expression; can only match a single line and need to be double escaped when written in YAML or JSON
• "ignoreComments": true ignores all trailing comments and comments on their own line
• "ignoreTrailingComments": true ignores only trailing comments
• "ignoreUrls": true ignores lines that contain a URL
• "ignoreStrings": true ignores lines that contain a double-quoted or single-quoted string
• "ignoreTemplateLiterals": true ignores lines that contain a template literal
• "ignoreRegExpLiterals": true ignores lines that contain a RegExp literal

code

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the default { "code": 80 } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "code": 80 }]*/

var foo = { "bar": "This is a bar.", "baz": { "qux": "This is a qux" }, "difficult": "to read" };

Examples of correct code for this rule with the default { "code": 80 } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "code": 80 }]*/

var foo = {
  "bar": "This is a bar.",
  "baz": { "qux": "This is a qux" },
  "easier": "to read"
};

tabWidth

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the default { "tabWidth": 4 } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "code": 80, "tabWidth": 4 }]*/

\t  \t  var foo = { "bar": "This is a bar.", "baz": { "qux": "This is a qux" } };

Examples of correct code for this rule with the default { "tabWidth": 4 } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "code": 80, "tabWidth": 4 }]*/

\t  \t  var foo = {
\t  \t  \t  \t  "bar": "This is a bar.",
\t  \t  \t  \t  "baz": { "qux": "This is a qux" }
\t  \t  };

comments

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the { "comments": 65 } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "comments": 65 }]*/

/**
 * This is a comment that violates the maximum line length we have specified
**/

ignoreComments

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "ignoreComments": true } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "ignoreComments": true }]*/

/**
 * This is a really really really really really really really really really long comment
**/

ignoreTrailingComments

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "ignoreTrailingComments": true } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "ignoreTrailingComments": true }]*/

var foo = 'bar'; // This is a really really really really really really really long comment

ignoreUrls

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "ignoreUrls": true } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "ignoreUrls": true }]*/

var url = 'https://www.example.com/really/really/really/really/really/really/really/long';

ignoreStrings

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "ignoreStrings": true } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "ignoreStrings": true }]*/

var longString = 'this is a really really really really really long string!';

ignoreTemplateLiterals

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "ignoreTemplateLiterals": true } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "ignoreTemplateLiterals": true }]*/

var longTemplateLiteral = `this is a really really really really really long template literal!`;

ignoreRegExpLiterals

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "ignoreRegExpLiterals": true } option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "ignoreRegExpLiterals": true }]*/

var longRegExpLiteral = /this is a really really really really really long regular expression!/;

ignorePattern

Examples of correct code for this rule with the ignorePattern option:

/*eslint max-len: ["error", { "ignorePattern": "^\\s*var\\s.+=\\s*require\\s*\\(" }]*/

var dep = require('really/really/really/really/really/really/really/really/long/module');

Related Rules

• [complexity](complexity.md)
• [max-depth](max-depth.md)
• [max-nested-callbacks](max-nested-callbacks.md)
• [max-params](max-params.md)
• [max-statements](max-statements.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

Duplicated Code

Duplicated code can lead to software that is hard to understand and difficult to change. The Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) principle states:

Every piece of knowledge must have a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation within a system.

When you violate DRY, bugs and maintenance problems are sure to follow. Duplicated code has a tendency to both continue to replicate and also to diverge (leaving bugs as two similar implementations differ in subtle ways).

Tuning

This issue has a mass of 57.

We set useful threshold defaults for the languages we support but you may want to adjust these settings based on your project guidelines.

The threshold configuration represents the minimum mass a code block must have to be analyzed for duplication. The lower the threshold, the more fine-grained the comparison.

If the engine is too easily reporting duplication, try raising the threshold. If you suspect that the engine isn't catching enough duplication, try lowering the threshold. The best setting tends to differ from language to language.

See codeclimate-duplication's documentation for more information about tuning the mass threshold in your .codeclimate.yml.

Refactorings

• Extract Method
• Extract Class
• Form Template Method
• Introduce Null Object
• Pull Up Method
• Pull Up Field
• Substitute Algorithm

Further Reading

• Don't Repeat Yourself on the C2 Wiki
• Duplicated Code on SourceMaking
• Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code by Martin Fowler. Duplicated Code, p76

Duplicated Code

Duplicated code can lead to software that is hard to understand and difficult to change. The Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) principle states:

Every piece of knowledge must have a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation within a system.

When you violate DRY, bugs and maintenance problems are sure to follow. Duplicated code has a tendency to both continue to replicate and also to diverge (leaving bugs as two similar implementations differ in subtle ways).

Tuning

This issue has a mass of 57.

We set useful threshold defaults for the languages we support but you may want to adjust these settings based on your project guidelines.

The threshold configuration represents the minimum mass a code block must have to be analyzed for duplication. The lower the threshold, the more fine-grained the comparison.

If the engine is too easily reporting duplication, try raising the threshold. If you suspect that the engine isn't catching enough duplication, try lowering the threshold. The best setting tends to differ from language to language.

See codeclimate-duplication's documentation for more information about tuning the mass threshold in your .codeclimate.yml.

Refactorings

• Extract Method
• Extract Class
• Form Template Method
• Introduce Null Object
• Pull Up Method
• Pull Up Field
• Substitute Algorithm

Further Reading

• Don't Repeat Yourself on the C2 Wiki
• Duplicated Code on SourceMaking
• Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code by Martin Fowler. Duplicated Code, p76

Duplicated Code

Duplicated code can lead to software that is hard to understand and difficult to change. The Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) principle states:

Every piece of knowledge must have a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation within a system.

When you violate DRY, bugs and maintenance problems are sure to follow. Duplicated code has a tendency to both continue to replicate and also to diverge (leaving bugs as two similar implementations differ in subtle ways).

Tuning

This issue has a mass of 54.

We set useful threshold defaults for the languages we support but you may want to adjust these settings based on your project guidelines.

The threshold configuration represents the minimum mass a code block must have to be analyzed for duplication. The lower the threshold, the more fine-grained the comparison.

If the engine is too easily reporting duplication, try raising the threshold. If you suspect that the engine isn't catching enough duplication, try lowering the threshold. The best setting tends to differ from language to language.

See codeclimate-duplication's documentation for more information about tuning the mass threshold in your .codeclimate.yml.

Refactorings

• Extract Method
• Extract Class
• Form Template Method
• Introduce Null Object
• Pull Up Method
• Pull Up Field
• Substitute Algorithm

Further Reading

• Don't Repeat Yourself on the C2 Wiki
• Duplicated Code on SourceMaking
• Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code by Martin Fowler. Duplicated Code, p76

Duplicated Code

Duplicated code can lead to software that is hard to understand and difficult to change. The Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) principle states:

Every piece of knowledge must have a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation within a system.

When you violate DRY, bugs and maintenance problems are sure to follow. Duplicated code has a tendency to both continue to replicate and also to diverge (leaving bugs as two similar implementations differ in subtle ways).

Tuning

This issue has a mass of 54.

We set useful threshold defaults for the languages we support but you may want to adjust these settings based on your project guidelines.

The threshold configuration represents the minimum mass a code block must have to be analyzed for duplication. The lower the threshold, the more fine-grained the comparison.

If the engine is too easily reporting duplication, try raising the threshold. If you suspect that the engine isn't catching enough duplication, try lowering the threshold. The best setting tends to differ from language to language.

See codeclimate-duplication's documentation for more information about tuning the mass threshold in your .codeclimate.yml.

Refactorings

• Extract Method
• Extract Class
• Form Template Method
• Introduce Null Object
• Pull Up Method
• Pull Up Field
• Substitute Algorithm

Further Reading

• Don't Repeat Yourself on the C2 Wiki
• Duplicated Code on SourceMaking
• Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code by Martin Fowler. Duplicated Code, p76

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

Duplicated Code

Duplicated code can lead to software that is hard to understand and difficult to change. The Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) principle states:

Every piece of knowledge must have a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation within a system.

When you violate DRY, bugs and maintenance problems are sure to follow. Duplicated code has a tendency to both continue to replicate and also to diverge (leaving bugs as two similar implementations differ in subtle ways).

Tuning

This issue has a mass of 47.

We set useful threshold defaults for the languages we support but you may want to adjust these settings based on your project guidelines.

The threshold configuration represents the minimum mass a code block must have to be analyzed for duplication. The lower the threshold, the more fine-grained the comparison.

If the engine is too easily reporting duplication, try raising the threshold. If you suspect that the engine isn't catching enough duplication, try lowering the threshold. The best setting tends to differ from language to language.

See codeclimate-duplication's documentation for more information about tuning the mass threshold in your .codeclimate.yml.

Refactorings

• Extract Method
• Extract Class
• Form Template Method
• Introduce Null Object
• Pull Up Method
• Pull Up Field
• Substitute Algorithm

Further Reading

• Don't Repeat Yourself on the C2 Wiki
• Duplicated Code on SourceMaking
• Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code by Martin Fowler. Duplicated Code, p76

Duplicated Code

Duplicated code can lead to software that is hard to understand and difficult to change. The Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) principle states:

Every piece of knowledge must have a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation within a system.

When you violate DRY, bugs and maintenance problems are sure to follow. Duplicated code has a tendency to both continue to replicate and also to diverge (leaving bugs as two similar implementations differ in subtle ways).

Tuning

This issue has a mass of 47.

We set useful threshold defaults for the languages we support but you may want to adjust these settings based on your project guidelines.

The threshold configuration represents the minimum mass a code block must have to be analyzed for duplication. The lower the threshold, the more fine-grained the comparison.

If the engine is too easily reporting duplication, try raising the threshold. If you suspect that the engine isn't catching enough duplication, try lowering the threshold. The best setting tends to differ from language to language.

See codeclimate-duplication's documentation for more information about tuning the mass threshold in your .codeclimate.yml.

Refactorings

• Extract Method
• Extract Class
• Form Template Method
• Introduce Null Object
• Pull Up Method
• Pull Up Field
• Substitute Algorithm

Further Reading

• Don't Repeat Yourself on the C2 Wiki
• Duplicated Code on SourceMaking
• Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code by Martin Fowler. Duplicated Code, p76

For more information visit Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

require or disallow semicolons instead of ASI (semi)

JavaScript is unique amongst the C-like languages in that it doesn't require semicolons at the end of each statement. In many cases, the JavaScript engine can determine that a semicolon should be in a certain spot and will automatically add it. This feature is known as automatic semicolon insertion (ASI) and is considered one of the more controversial features of JavaScript. For example, the following lines are both valid:

var name = "ESLint"
var website = "eslint.org";

On the first line, the JavaScript engine will automatically insert a semicolon, so this is not considered a syntax error. The JavaScript engine still knows how to interpret the line and knows that the line end indicates the end of the statement.

In the debate over ASI, there are generally two schools of thought. The first is that we should treat ASI as if it didn't exist and always include semicolons manually. The rationale is that it's easier to always include semicolons than to try to remember when they are or are not required, and thus decreases the possibility of introducing an error.

However, the ASI mechanism can sometimes be tricky to people who are using semicolons. For example, consider this code:

return
{
    name: "ESLint"
};

This may look like a return statement that returns an object literal, however, the JavaScript engine will interpret this code as:

return;
{
    name: "ESLint";
}

Effectively, a semicolon is inserted after the return statement, causing the code below it (a labeled literal inside a block) to be unreachable. This rule and the [no-unreachable](no-unreachable.md) rule will protect your code from such cases.

On the other side of the argument are those who say that since semicolons are inserted automatically, they are optional and do not need to be inserted manually. However, the ASI mechanism can also be tricky to people who don't use semicolons. For example, consider this code:

var globalCounter = { }

(function () {
    var n = 0
    globalCounter.increment = function () {
        return ++n
    }
})()

In this example, a semicolon will not be inserted after the first line, causing a run-time error (because an empty object is called as if it's a function). The [no-unexpected-multiline](no-unexpected-multiline.md) rule can protect your code from such cases.

Although ASI allows for more freedom over your coding style, it can also make your code behave in an unexpected way, whether you use semicolons or not. Therefore, it is best to know when ASI takes place and when it does not, and have ESLint protect your code from these potentially unexpected cases. In short, as once described by Isaac Schlueter, a \n character always ends a statement (just like a semicolon) unless one of the following is true:

1. The statement has an unclosed paren, array literal, or object literal or ends in some other way that is not a valid way to end a statement. (For instance, ending with . or ,.)
2. The line is -- or ++ (in which case it will decrement/increment the next token.)
3. It is a for(), while(), do, if(), or else, and there is no {
4. The next line starts with [, (, +, *, /, -, ,, ., or some other binary operator that can only be found between two tokens in a single expression.

Rule Details

This rule enforces consistent use of semicolons.

Options

This rule has two options, a string option and an object option.

String option:

• "always" (default) requires semicolons at the end of statements
• "never" disallows semicolons as the end of statements (except to disambiguate statements beginning with [, (, /, +, or -)

Object option (when "always"):

• "omitLastInOneLineBlock": true ignores the last semicolon in a block in which its braces (and therefore the content of the block) are in the same line

Object option (when "never"):

• "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "any" (default) ignores semicolons (or lacking semicolon) at the end of statements if the next line starts with [, (, /, +, or -.
• "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "always" requires semicolons at the end of statements if the next line starts with [, (, /, +, or -.
• "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "never" disallows semicolons as the end of statements if it doesn't make ASI hazard even if the next line starts with [, (, /, +, or -.

always

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the default "always" option:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "always"]*/

var name = "ESLint"

object.method = function() {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the default "always" option:

/*eslint semi: "error"*/

var name = "ESLint";

object.method = function() {
    // ...
};

never

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the "never" option:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never"]*/

var name = "ESLint";

object.method = function() {
    // ...
};

Examples of correct code for this rule with the "never" option:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never"]*/

var name = "ESLint"

object.method = function() {
    // ...
}

var name = "ESLint"

;(function() {
    // ...
})()

import a from "a"
(function() {
    // ...
})()

import b from "b"
;(function() {
    // ...
})()

omitLastInOneLineBlock

Examples of additional correct code for this rule with the "always", { "omitLastInOneLineBlock": true } options:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "always", { "omitLastInOneLineBlock": true}] */

if (foo) { bar() }

if (foo) { bar(); baz() }

beforeStatementContinuationChars

Examples of additional incorrect code for this rule with the "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "always" } options:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "always"}] */
import a from "a"

(function() {
    // ...
})()

Examples of additional incorrect code for this rule with the "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "never" } options:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "never"}] */
import a from "a"

;(function() {
    // ...
})()

When Not To Use It

If you do not want to enforce semicolon usage (or omission) in any particular way, then you can turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• An Open Letter to JavaScript Leaders Regarding Semicolons
• JavaScript Semicolon Insertion

Related Rules

• [no-extra-semi](no-extra-semi.md)
• [no-unexpected-multiline](no-unexpected-multiline.md)
• [semi-spacing](semi-spacing.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

For more information visit Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

For more information visit Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

require or disallow semicolons instead of ASI (semi)

JavaScript is unique amongst the C-like languages in that it doesn't require semicolons at the end of each statement. In many cases, the JavaScript engine can determine that a semicolon should be in a certain spot and will automatically add it. This feature is known as automatic semicolon insertion (ASI) and is considered one of the more controversial features of JavaScript. For example, the following lines are both valid:

var name = "ESLint"
var website = "eslint.org";

On the first line, the JavaScript engine will automatically insert a semicolon, so this is not considered a syntax error. The JavaScript engine still knows how to interpret the line and knows that the line end indicates the end of the statement.

In the debate over ASI, there are generally two schools of thought. The first is that we should treat ASI as if it didn't exist and always include semicolons manually. The rationale is that it's easier to always include semicolons than to try to remember when they are or are not required, and thus decreases the possibility of introducing an error.

However, the ASI mechanism can sometimes be tricky to people who are using semicolons. For example, consider this code:

return
{
    name: "ESLint"
};

This may look like a return statement that returns an object literal, however, the JavaScript engine will interpret this code as:

return;
{
    name: "ESLint";
}

Effectively, a semicolon is inserted after the return statement, causing the code below it (a labeled literal inside a block) to be unreachable. This rule and the [no-unreachable](no-unreachable.md) rule will protect your code from such cases.

On the other side of the argument are those who say that since semicolons are inserted automatically, they are optional and do not need to be inserted manually. However, the ASI mechanism can also be tricky to people who don't use semicolons. For example, consider this code:

var globalCounter = { }

(function () {
    var n = 0
    globalCounter.increment = function () {
        return ++n
    }
})()

In this example, a semicolon will not be inserted after the first line, causing a run-time error (because an empty object is called as if it's a function). The [no-unexpected-multiline](no-unexpected-multiline.md) rule can protect your code from such cases.

Although ASI allows for more freedom over your coding style, it can also make your code behave in an unexpected way, whether you use semicolons or not. Therefore, it is best to know when ASI takes place and when it does not, and have ESLint protect your code from these potentially unexpected cases. In short, as once described by Isaac Schlueter, a \n character always ends a statement (just like a semicolon) unless one of the following is true:

1. The statement has an unclosed paren, array literal, or object literal or ends in some other way that is not a valid way to end a statement. (For instance, ending with . or ,.)
2. The line is -- or ++ (in which case it will decrement/increment the next token.)
3. It is a for(), while(), do, if(), or else, and there is no {
4. The next line starts with [, (, +, *, /, -, ,, ., or some other binary operator that can only be found between two tokens in a single expression.

Rule Details

This rule enforces consistent use of semicolons.

Options

This rule has two options, a string option and an object option.

String option:

• "always" (default) requires semicolons at the end of statements
• "never" disallows semicolons as the end of statements (except to disambiguate statements beginning with [, (, /, +, or -)

Object option (when "always"):

• "omitLastInOneLineBlock": true ignores the last semicolon in a block in which its braces (and therefore the content of the block) are in the same line

Object option (when "never"):

• "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "any" (default) ignores semicolons (or lacking semicolon) at the end of statements if the next line starts with [, (, /, +, or -.
• "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "always" requires semicolons at the end of statements if the next line starts with [, (, /, +, or -.
• "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "never" disallows semicolons as the end of statements if it doesn't make ASI hazard even if the next line starts with [, (, /, +, or -.

always

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the default "always" option:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "always"]*/

var name = "ESLint"

object.method = function() {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the default "always" option:

/*eslint semi: "error"*/

var name = "ESLint";

object.method = function() {
    // ...
};

never

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the "never" option:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never"]*/

var name = "ESLint";

object.method = function() {
    // ...
};

Examples of correct code for this rule with the "never" option:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never"]*/

var name = "ESLint"

object.method = function() {
    // ...
}

var name = "ESLint"

;(function() {
    // ...
})()

import a from "a"
(function() {
    // ...
})()

import b from "b"
;(function() {
    // ...
})()

omitLastInOneLineBlock

Examples of additional correct code for this rule with the "always", { "omitLastInOneLineBlock": true } options:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "always", { "omitLastInOneLineBlock": true}] */

if (foo) { bar() }

if (foo) { bar(); baz() }

beforeStatementContinuationChars

Examples of additional incorrect code for this rule with the "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "always" } options:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "always"}] */
import a from "a"

(function() {
    // ...
})()

Examples of additional incorrect code for this rule with the "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "never" } options:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "never"}] */
import a from "a"

;(function() {
    // ...
})()

When Not To Use It

If you do not want to enforce semicolon usage (or omission) in any particular way, then you can turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• An Open Letter to JavaScript Leaders Regarding Semicolons
• JavaScript Semicolon Insertion

Related Rules

• [no-extra-semi](no-extra-semi.md)
• [no-unexpected-multiline](no-unexpected-multiline.md)
• [semi-spacing](semi-spacing.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

For more information visit Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/

require or disallow semicolons instead of ASI (semi)

JavaScript is unique amongst the C-like languages in that it doesn't require semicolons at the end of each statement. In many cases, the JavaScript engine can determine that a semicolon should be in a certain spot and will automatically add it. This feature is known as automatic semicolon insertion (ASI) and is considered one of the more controversial features of JavaScript. For example, the following lines are both valid:

var name = "ESLint"
var website = "eslint.org";

On the first line, the JavaScript engine will automatically insert a semicolon, so this is not considered a syntax error. The JavaScript engine still knows how to interpret the line and knows that the line end indicates the end of the statement.

In the debate over ASI, there are generally two schools of thought. The first is that we should treat ASI as if it didn't exist and always include semicolons manually. The rationale is that it's easier to always include semicolons than to try to remember when they are or are not required, and thus decreases the possibility of introducing an error.

However, the ASI mechanism can sometimes be tricky to people who are using semicolons. For example, consider this code:

return
{
    name: "ESLint"
};

This may look like a return statement that returns an object literal, however, the JavaScript engine will interpret this code as:

return;
{
    name: "ESLint";
}

Effectively, a semicolon is inserted after the return statement, causing the code below it (a labeled literal inside a block) to be unreachable. This rule and the [no-unreachable](no-unreachable.md) rule will protect your code from such cases.

On the other side of the argument are those who say that since semicolons are inserted automatically, they are optional and do not need to be inserted manually. However, the ASI mechanism can also be tricky to people who don't use semicolons. For example, consider this code:

var globalCounter = { }

(function () {
    var n = 0
    globalCounter.increment = function () {
        return ++n
    }
})()

In this example, a semicolon will not be inserted after the first line, causing a run-time error (because an empty object is called as if it's a function). The [no-unexpected-multiline](no-unexpected-multiline.md) rule can protect your code from such cases.

Although ASI allows for more freedom over your coding style, it can also make your code behave in an unexpected way, whether you use semicolons or not. Therefore, it is best to know when ASI takes place and when it does not, and have ESLint protect your code from these potentially unexpected cases. In short, as once described by Isaac Schlueter, a \n character always ends a statement (just like a semicolon) unless one of the following is true:

1. The statement has an unclosed paren, array literal, or object literal or ends in some other way that is not a valid way to end a statement. (For instance, ending with . or ,.)
2. The line is -- or ++ (in which case it will decrement/increment the next token.)
3. It is a for(), while(), do, if(), or else, and there is no {
4. The next line starts with [, (, +, *, /, -, ,, ., or some other binary operator that can only be found between two tokens in a single expression.

Rule Details

This rule enforces consistent use of semicolons.

Options

This rule has two options, a string option and an object option.

String option:

• "always" (default) requires semicolons at the end of statements
• "never" disallows semicolons as the end of statements (except to disambiguate statements beginning with [, (, /, +, or -)

Object option (when "always"):

• "omitLastInOneLineBlock": true ignores the last semicolon in a block in which its braces (and therefore the content of the block) are in the same line

Object option (when "never"):

• "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "any" (default) ignores semicolons (or lacking semicolon) at the end of statements if the next line starts with [, (, /, +, or -.
• "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "always" requires semicolons at the end of statements if the next line starts with [, (, /, +, or -.
• "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "never" disallows semicolons as the end of statements if it doesn't make ASI hazard even if the next line starts with [, (, /, +, or -.

always

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the default "always" option:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "always"]*/

var name = "ESLint"

object.method = function() {
    // ...
}

Examples of correct code for this rule with the default "always" option:

/*eslint semi: "error"*/

var name = "ESLint";

object.method = function() {
    // ...
};

never

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the "never" option:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never"]*/

var name = "ESLint";

object.method = function() {
    // ...
};

Examples of correct code for this rule with the "never" option:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never"]*/

var name = "ESLint"

object.method = function() {
    // ...
}

var name = "ESLint"

;(function() {
    // ...
})()

import a from "a"
(function() {
    // ...
})()

import b from "b"
;(function() {
    // ...
})()

omitLastInOneLineBlock

Examples of additional correct code for this rule with the "always", { "omitLastInOneLineBlock": true } options:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "always", { "omitLastInOneLineBlock": true}] */

if (foo) { bar() }

if (foo) { bar(); baz() }

beforeStatementContinuationChars

Examples of additional incorrect code for this rule with the "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "always" } options:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "always"}] */
import a from "a"

(function() {
    // ...
})()

Examples of additional incorrect code for this rule with the "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "never" } options:

/*eslint semi: ["error", "never", { "beforeStatementContinuationChars": "never"}] */
import a from "a"

;(function() {
    // ...
})()

When Not To Use It

If you do not want to enforce semicolon usage (or omission) in any particular way, then you can turn this rule off.

Further Reading

• An Open Letter to JavaScript Leaders Regarding Semicolons
• JavaScript Semicolon Insertion

Related Rules

• [no-extra-semi](no-extra-semi.md)
• [no-unexpected-multiline](no-unexpected-multiline.md)
• [semi-spacing](semi-spacing.md) Source: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/