Navigating the JavaScript Frontier with is.primitive and is.not_primitive from 'thiis'
Tags: security, beginners, codenewbie, coding
Published: 2023-11-21 12:09:04

JavaScript, the land of endless possibilities, often involves working with different data types. Sometimes, you just need to know if you're dealing with the basic building blocks—primitive values. Enter the `is.primitive` method and its trusty companion, `is.not_primitive`, from the 'thiis' package. In this friendly exploration, we'll embark on a journey through JavaScript's diverse landscape and learn how these methods can simplify your coding adventures.


## Understanding the Primitives of JavaScript

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/q3s7mxky55l2e80gthhl.jpeg)

Before we dive into the magical world of `is.primitive`, let's quickly review what primitive values are in JavaScript. Primitives are the simplest, indivisible building blocks of the language. They include numbers, strings, booleans, `null`, `undefined`, and symbols. Recognizing these is crucial for understanding how values behave in your code.

## Meet `is.primitive` - Your Guide to Simplicity

[Documentation link](https://karbashevskyi.github.io/thiis/docs/API/Common/is.primitive)

Imagine you're wandering through a vast JavaScript forest, and you come across a mysterious value. Is it a primitive, or something more complex? The `is.primitive` method acts as your guide, helping you determine if a value is indeed a primitive. Let's see it in action:

```javascript
import { is } from 'thiis'; // Import the "is" object from the "thiis" package

const myValue = 42;
const result = is.primitive(myValue);

console.log(result); // true
```

In this example, we import the "is" object from the "thiis" package and use the `is.primitive` method to confirm that `myValue` is indeed a primitive value. As expected, it returns `true` because the value is a number, a primitive in JavaScript.

## The Journey of Examples

Now, let's embark on a delightful journey through six unique scenarios, showcasing the simplicity and power of `is.primitive` and its companion, `is.not_primitive`. We'll explore a variety of situations, from user input to streams and arrays.

### 1. **Validating User Input as Primitive**

When users interact with your application, it's essential to validate their input. `is.primitive` can help ensure that the input is a simple, primitive value:

```javascript
import { is } from 'thiis';

function validateUserInput(input) {
  if (is.primitive(input)) {
    return 'Input validated as a primitive value!';
  } else {
    return 'Please provide a simple, primitive value.';
  }
}
```

### 2. **Guarding Against Non-Primitives**

Conversely, `is.not_primitive` is your guardian against non-primitive values. It ensures that the value is not something more complex:

```javascript
import { is } from 'thiis';

const complexObject = { data: 'not primitive' };

if (is.not_primitive(complexObject)) {
  // Handle the scenario where the value is not a primitive.
} else {
  // Continue with the simplicity of primitives.
}
```

### 3. **Navigating a Stream of Values**

Let's dive into the world of streams using RxJS. You can use `filter` and `is.primitive` to ensure that your stream processes only primitive values:

```javascript
import { is } from 'thiis';
import { from } from 'rxjs';
import { filter } from 'rxjs/operators';

const stream$ = from([42, 'a string', { object: 'not primitive' }, true, null]);

stream$
  .pipe(
    filter(is.primitive)
  )
  .subscribe(value => {
    console.log(value); // Only primitive values will continue down the stream.
  });
```

In this example, the `filter(is.primitive)` ensures that only primitive values are processed by the stream.

### 4. **Array Exploration with `is.not_primitive`**

Arrays are a common playground for different data types. Use `is.not_primitive` with `some()` to check if at least one element is not a primitive:

```javascript
import { is } from 'thiis';

const mixedArray = [42, 'string', { object: 'not primitive' }, true, null];

const hasNonPrimitive = mixedArray.some(is.not_primitive); // true

console.log(hasNonPrimitive);
```

Here, `hasNonPrimitive` checks if at least one element in `mixedArray` is not a primitive value.

### 5. **Simple Math with `is.primitive`**

Math operations often involve primitive values. Use `is.primitive` to ensure that a value is suitable for basic arithmetic:

```javascript
import { is } from 'thiis';

const myNumber = 42;

if (is.primitive(myNumber)) {
  const result = myNumber * 2;
  console.log(result); // 84
} else {
  console.log('Not a valid primitive for arithmetic operations.');
}
```

### 6. **Checking for `undefined`**

`is.not_primitive` is handy when checking for `undefined`, ensuring your code handles cases where a value is not defined:

```javascript
import { is } from 'thiis';

let myVariable;

if (is.not_primitive(myVariable)) {
  // Handle the scenario where the variable is defined.
} else {
  console.log('Variable is not defined.');
}
```

## The Adventure Continues

The `is.primitive` and `is.not_primitive` methods from the 'thiis' package are your reliable companions on your JavaScript adventure. They simplify the process of identifying and working with primitive values, making your code clearer and more robust. By adding the 'thiis' package to your JavaScript toolkit and exploring its documentation for more tips and examples, you can navigate the JavaScript landscape with confidence and a touch of simplicity.

So, keep coding, and enjoy the simplicity of primitives in JavaScript! 

> 🎗 ChatGPT & DALL·E 3