Make your JavaScript code more efficient, readable, and maintainable.(Part 2)
Tags: javascript, productivity, beginners, codenewbie
Published: 2023-01-13 18:49:13

Here are a few JavaScript tips and tricks with examples and reasons.


##Use clear and meaningful `variable` and `function` names:

By using clear and meaningful names for your `variables` and `functions`, it becomes much easier for other developers (or even future you) to understand what the code is doing. It also makes it much easier to find and fix bugs.

```javascript
//bad
let x = 5;
let y = 10;
let z = x * y;

//good
let width = 5;
let height = 10;
let area = width * height;
```

**Reason:** Using clear and meaningful `variable` and `function` names makes the code more readable and understandable, which helps other developers (or even future you) to understand what the code is doing. It also makes it much easier to find and fix bugs.


##Break code into smaller `functions`:

Breaking code into smaller, reusable `functions` makes it much easier to understand and maintain. It also makes it much easier to test and debug.

```javascript
//bad
function calculateTotal(items) {
  let total = 0;
  for (let item of items) {
    total += item.price * item.quantity;
  }
  return total;
}

//good
function calculateTotal(items) {
  return items.reduce((total, item) => total + calculatePrice(item), 0);
}

function calculatePrice(item) {
  return item.price * item.quantity;
}

```
**Reason:** Breaking code into smaller `functions` makes the code more manageable and reusable. It also makes it much easier to test and debug. This will help to make the code more maintainable and easy to understand.


##Use `destructuring` assignment to unpack values from `arrays` or `objects`: 

`Destructuring `assignment makes it easy to unpack values from `arrays` or `objects`, which makes your code shorter and more readable.

```javascript
// general way
let user = {name: 'John', age: 30};
let name = user.name;
let age = user.age;
console.log(name); // 'John'
console.log(age); // 30

//using destructuring 
let {name, age} = user;
console.log(name); // 'John'
console.log(age); // 30

```
**Reason:** Using `destructuring` assignment to unpack values from `arrays` or `objects` makes the code shorter and more readable, it also makes it easy to extract values from `arrays` or `objects`.

##Use `spread operator` to expand `arrays` and `objects`:

The `spread operator` makes it easy to expand `arrays` and `objects`, which makes your code shorter and more readable.

```javascript
let numbers = [1, 2, 3];
let moreNumbers = [4, 5, 6];
let allNumbers = [...numbers, ...moreNumbers];
console.log(allNumbers); // [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

```

**Reason:** Using `spread operator` to expand arrays and objects makes the code shorter and more readable, it also makes it easy to expand arrays and objects.


##Use `default parameters` to provide default values for `function arguments`:

`Default parameters` make it easy to provide default values for `function arguments`, which makes your code more robust and easier to understand..
```javascript
//bad
function divide(a, b) {
  if (b === undefined) {
    b = 1;
  }
  return a / b;
}
console.log(divide(10)); // 10

//good
function divide(a, b = 1) {
  return a / b;
}
console.log(divide(10)); // 10

```
**Reason:** Using `default parameters` to provide default values for `function arguments` makes the code more robust and easier to understand, it also makes it easy to provide default values for function arguments.


##Use comments to explain complex or non-obvious code:

Comments can be a great tool for making code more readable and understandable. Use comments to explain what the code is doing, and why it's doing it.

```javascript
//calculate the area of the rectangle
function rectangleArea(width, height) {
  return width * height;
}

```
**Reason:** Using comments to explain complex or non-obvious code helps to make the code more readable and understandable. This helps other developers (or even future you) to understand the purpose of the code and how it works.