Test your JavaScript knowledge, refresh important concepts, or prepare for an interview with this comprehensive guide! 💪 Whether you're a beginner or intermediate learner, this document will help you strengthen your understanding with detailed explanations, multiple examples, common mistakes, and real-world applications.
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🗂️ Table of Contents:
- 1. 🧐 Truthy vs Falsy in JavaScript: Master Conditional Logic and Avoid Sneaky Bugs
- 2. 👨👩👧👦 Prototypal Inheritance: How Objects Share Behavior Through the Prototype Chain
- 3. 📜 JavaScript Promises Explained: Handle Asynchronous Logic with .then(), .catch(), and async/await
- 4. 🎭 Closures Explained with Examples: Unlock Function Scope and Preserve Private State in JavaScript
- 5. 🔄 JavaScript Event Loop and Asynchronous Behavior: Keep Your UI Responsive While Managing Time and Tasks
- 6. 🔥 Why
this
in JavaScript Can Be Confusing (And How to Master It) - 7. 💡
call
,apply
, andbind
: The Superpowers of JavaScript Functions - 8. 🚀
map
,filter
, andreduce
Explained Like You’re Five - 9. ⏳ How
setTimeout
andsetInterval
Work in JavaScript (And Why They Matter) - 10. 🔄
async
andawait
: The Easiest Way to Handle Promises - 11. 📦 How to Use
JSON
andlocalStorage
to Save Data - 12. 🏗️ ES6 Classes: The Simple Way to Write Object-Oriented Code
- 13. 🚨 Why You Should Always Use
"use strict"
in JavaScript - 14. 🛡️
try...catch
: The Secret to Handling Errors Like a Pro - 15. 🔑 The Power of
Object.keys()
,Object.values()
, andObject.entries()
- 16. ⏱️ Debounce and Throttle in JavaScript: Control When Your Functions Fire
- 17. 🎯 Event Delegation in JavaScript: Handle More with Less
- 18. 🎛️ Understanding Event Bubbling and Capturing in JavaScript
- 19. 🧠 Memory Management in JavaScript: How to Prevent Leaks and Optimize Your App
- 20. ⛓️ How JavaScript Handles Blocking vs. Non-Blocking Code
- 21. 🧪 Writing Testable JavaScript: Pure Functions and Side Effects
Available In: 🇧🇩 বাংলা
🛠️ Introduction
In JavaScript, every value is either truthy or falsy when evaluated in a Boolean context—like inside if
statements or logical conditions. This classification drives how your app makes decisions, filters data, and evaluates expressions.
Understanding what counts as truthy or falsy helps prevent bugs and write cleaner, more reliable code.
Think of a primitive value as a sheet of paper—either blank (falsy) or filled with writing (truthy). Objects are folders holding papers. Even if a folder contains a blank paper (new Boolean(false)
), the folder itself exists. So it’s considered truthy.
const name = "Saief";
if (name) {
console.log("Valid name");
} else {
console.log("Name is missing");
}
💬 Explanation:
- The string
"Saief"
is truthy because it's not empty. But ifname
was""
(an empty string), it would be falsy and trigger theelse
block.
const flag = new Boolean(false);
if (flag) {
console.log("This still runs!");
}
💬 Explanation:
- Even though
false
is inside theBoolean
object,flag
is an object, which is always truthy. - This often confuses developers, especially during type coercion and when mixing object wrappers with Boolean logic.
🧱 Type | 🧪 Examples | ✅ Behavior in Boolean Context |
---|---|---|
undefined |
undefined |
Falsy |
null |
null |
Falsy |
boolean |
true , false |
true is truthy, false is falsy |
number |
42 , 0 , NaN |
0 and NaN are falsy |
string |
"Hello" , "" |
"" is falsy |
symbol |
Symbol("id") |
Always truthy |
BigInt |
BigInt(1234) , BigInt(0) |
BigInt(0) is falsy |
💡 Type | 📝 Examples | ⚡ Truthy Behavior |
---|---|---|
Array | [] , [1,2,3] |
Always truthy |
Object | {} , { name: "A" } |
Always truthy |
Function | function() {} |
Always truthy |
Constructor Object | new Boolean(false) |
Always truthy |
No matter what content they hold—if the reference exists in memory, it’s truthy.
❌ Mistake | 😵 Why It’s Confusing | ✅ How to Fix It |
---|---|---|
new Boolean(false) is truthy |
Looks falsy, but it’s a truthy object | Avoid wrapping primitives unnecessarily |
Mistaking "" , 0 , NaN as valid |
They silently fail in conditions | Use explicit checks for data |
Relying on == for comparisons |
Can cause weird coercion | Use === for strict equality |
- Conditional rendering in React
{
user && <WelcomeScreen />;
}
- Short-circuit evaluation
const theme = customTheme || "light";
- Form validation checks
if (!email) showError("Email is required");
🧩 Type | ✅ Truthy? | 🔎 Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
"" , 0 , NaN , null , undefined , false |
❌ No | ✅ Yes | Evaluate as false in conditionals |
All objects ({} , [] , functions, constructors) |
✅ Yes | ❌ No | Always truthy, even if empty |
Wrapped primitives like new Boolean(false) |
✅ Yes | ❌ No | Truthy due to being objects |
JavaScript uses prototypal inheritance to share properties and methods between objects. Unlike classical inheritance in languages like Java or C++, where classes extend other classes, JavaScript objects can inherit from other objects directly.
This allows developers to write memory-efficient, reusable, and extendable logic by placing shared methods on the prototype instead of duplicating them across instances.
Understanding how prototypes work is essential for writing interview-worthy code, extending core behavior, and debugging inheritance chains.
Think of every JavaScript object as someone with their own personal recipe book. If that book doesn’t contain a specific recipe (method), they’ll ask their parent for it. That parent might ask their own parent, and so on. Eventually, if nobody has it, they give up.
This chain of recipe lookups is like JavaScript’s prototype chain—objects passing requests up through the inheritance line.
class Dog {
constructor(name) {
this.name = name;
}
}
Dog.prototype.bark = function () {
console.log(`Woof I am ${this.name}`);
};
const pet = new Dog("Mara");
pet.bark(); // Outputs: Woof I am Mara
💬 Explanation:
Dog
is a constructor function created using theclass
keyword.- The method
bark()
is not defined inside the class body, but onDog.prototype
. - This means every instance of Dog shares the same method, reducing memory usage.
- When
pet.bark()
is called, JavaScript checks ifbark
exists onpet
, doesn’t find it, then looks up the prototype chain and finds it onDog.prototype
.
String.prototype.shout = function () {
return this.toUpperCase() + "!!!";
};
console.log("hello".shout()); // Outputs: HELLO!!!
💬 Explanation:
shout()
is added toString.prototype
, which means all string instances now inherit this method.- Even string literals like
"hello"
can call.shout()
because JavaScript wraps them inString
objects temporarily.
Prototype extensions to built-in types are powerful, but should be used with care to avoid polluting global behavior.
Array.prototype.firstElement = function () {
return this.length > 0 ? this[0] : undefined;
};
console.log([1, 2, 3].firstElement()); // Outputs: 1
💬 Explanation:
- This method adds
firstElement()
to every array. - It’s inherited, not duplicated, which keeps things fast and clean.
- You now have a reusable shortcut to get the first item from any array.
Object.prototype.keysCount = function () {
return Object.keys(this).length;
};
console.log({ name: "Alice", age: 25 }.keysCount()); // Outputs: 2
💬 Explanation:
- Adds
keysCount()
to all objects viaObject.prototype
.
While powerful, this can cause unintended issues—methods may show up in loops or interfere with libraries.
- Avoid modifying
Object.prototype
in production apps, unless you control every part of the environment.
- Sharing utility methods across instances (e.g., form handlers, validators)
- Extending frameworks or libraries with custom behavior (e.g.,
.shout()
on strings in utilities) - Memory-efficient object modeling in game logic, data layers, or DOM wrappers
- Writing polyfills for older browsers by patching missing prototype methods (e.g.,
Array.prototype.includes
)
❌ Mistake | ✅ What to Do Instead | |
---|---|---|
Modifying Object.prototype |
Can break loops and third-party tools | Use utility wrappers or extend only scoped prototypes |
Creating methods inside constructors | Each instance gets a copy, wasting memory | Move shared methods to .prototype |
Assuming class removes prototype |
class syntax still uses prototypal inheritance under the hood |
Treat it as syntactic sugar for prototype chaining |
Forgetting how inheritance resolution works | Leads to hard-to-track bugs when chaining objects | Use console.log(obj.__proto__) to debug chain |
🧩 Feature | 💡 What It Means | 🔧 Why It Matters |
---|---|---|
Prototypal Inheritance | Objects inherit behavior from their prototype chain | Allows memory-efficient, shared logic |
.prototype usage |
Stores methods for reuse across instances | Avoids duplicating functions in constructors |
Extending built-in prototypes | Add custom methods to strings, arrays, etc | Use with caution, avoid polluting global scope |
3. 📜 JavaScript Promises Explained: Handle Asynchronous Logic with .then(), .catch(), and async/await
🛠️ Introduction
A Promise is an object that represents the result of an asynchronous operation—either success or failure. Instead of running code and immediately returning a result, promises let you handle outcomes that arrive later (like data from a server).
They provide a cleaner, more structured way to deal with async logic compared to older callback-based patterns. For modern JavaScript development, especially in React or API-based apps, understanding Promises is non-negotiable.
Imagine making a dinner reservation:
- You (consumer) call the restaurant.
- They (producer) prepare a table.
- If all goes well, they confirm the booking (resolve).
- If it’s overbooked or they mess up, they cancel it (reject).
You don’t sit and wait at the counter. Instead, you trust the confirmation and show up when ready. That’s how a Promise works—it guarantees that something will eventually happen, and your code can respond accordingly.
A promise can have one of 3 states:
State | Description |
---|---|
Pending | The operation is still in progress. |
Fulfilled | The operation completed successfully (resolve ). |
Rejected | The operation failed (reject ). |
const myPromise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
const success = true;
setTimeout(() => {
if (success) {
resolve("✅ Data received!");
} else {
reject("❌ Something went wrong.");
}
}, 1500);
});
💬 Explanation:
new Promise()
takes a function with two parameters:resolve
andreject
.- This function (called the executor) runs immediately.
- After 1500ms, it calls either
resolve()
orreject()
based on thesuccess
flag. - The promise starts in a
pending
state, then moves tofulfilled
orrejected
.
myPromise.then((message) => console.log("Success:", message)).catch((error) => console.log("Failure:", error));
💬 Explanation:
.then()
runs if the promise is resolved successfully..catch()
runs if it’s rejected.- This chaining makes it easier to handle success/failure side by side.
- You can also use
.finally()
to run code no matter what.
async function fetchData() {
try {
const response = await fetch("https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts");
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP status: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log("Fetched:", data);
} catch (error) {
console.error("Error:", error.message);
}
}
fetchData();
💬 Explanation:
async function
lets you useawait
to pause execution until the promise resolves.- If it fails, control jumps to the
catch
block. - This pattern feels synchronous, but handles asynchronous behavior under the hood.
- Commonly used in React hooks, data fetching, and form handling.
- Fetching data from REST APIs or GraphQL
- Reading files with
FileReader
in the browser - Handling user authentication or form submission
- Animations and transitions that complete asynchronously
- React’s
useEffect()
often wraps async logic using promises orasync/await
❌ Mistake | 😵 Problem | ✅ Fix It |
---|---|---|
Forgetting to return a promise | Leads to undefined behavior in chains | Always return the promise or result |
Mixing async and .then() |
Creates messy nested code | Choose either .then() or await , not both |
Unhandled rejections | Breaks error flow silently | Always use .catch() or try...catch |
Using await outside async |
Causes syntax errors | Make the parent function async |
🎯 Concept | 💡 Description | ⚡ Tip |
---|---|---|
Promise |
Represents future success or failure | Use to handle async operations cleanly |
.then() / .catch() |
Chain handlers for result and error | Great for chaining and logic separation |
async/await |
Syntax sugar for working with promises | Improves readability in async flows |
States | pending , fulfilled , rejected |
Know when and how your code executes |
4. 🎭 Closures Explained with Examples: Unlock Function Scope and Preserve Private State in JavaScript
🛠️ Introduction
A closure is formed when a function "remembers" the variables from its outer scope, even after the outer function has finished executing. It’s one of JavaScript’s most powerful features, enabling patterns like data encapsulation, function factories, and persistent state.
Closures are everywhere—from event handlers to loops, timers, and React hooks. Whether you're building simple tools or scaling complex apps, a clear grasp of closures helps you write predictable and testable code.
Imagine you're heading out for a picnic:
- You pack your sandwiches, water, and utensils.
- Even miles from home, your basket carries everything you packed.
- Closures work the same: a function travels with variables from its original scope—even after that scope is gone.
function createCounter() {
let count = 0;
return function () {
return ++count;
};
}
const counter = createCounter();
console.log(counter()); // 1
console.log(counter()); // 2
💬 Explanation:
count
is a local variable insidecreateCounter()
.- The returned inner function keeps access to
count
through closure. - Even though
createCounter()
has already run,count
remains alive. - ✅ This creates a private, persistent state without using global variables.
function multiplier(x) {
return function (num) {
return num * x;
};
}
const double = multiplier(2);
console.log(double(5)); // 10
💬 Explanation:
x
is remembered inside the returned function.- Each call to
multiplier()
returns a function with its own closed-overx
. - This pattern is useful for creating custom utilities, configurable handlers, or dynamic calculations.
(function () {
let clickCount = 0;
document.getElementById("myButton").addEventListener("click", function () {
clickCount++;
console.log(`Clicked ${clickCount} times`);
});
})();
💬 Explanation:
- The anonymous outer function runs once and sets up
clickCount
. - The event handler “closes over”
clickCount
and updates it on each click. - Even though the outer function finished long ago, the handler still remembers and modifies
clickCount
.
function startCountdown(seconds) {
let remaining = seconds;
const intervalId = setInterval(() => {
if (remaining === 0) {
console.log("⏰ Time's up!");
clearInterval(intervalId);
} else {
console.log(`🕒 ${remaining} seconds left`);
remaining--;
}
}, 1000);
}
startCountdown(5);
💬 Explanation:
- The function
startCountdown()
initializes a privateremaining
variable. - The inner function inside
setInterval()
forms a closure and keeps access toremaining
. - Even after
startCountdown()
finishes executing, the interval keeps modifying and readingremaining
every second. - Once it hits zero, the interval is cleared to stop the cycle.
✅ This is a perfect example of closures powering timed logic, like countdowns, game loops, or auto-refresh behaviors, without polluting global scope.
- React hooks (e.g., useState, useEffect)
- Debounce/throttle functions for input or scroll
- Custom event handlers that retain context
- Currying and function factories
- Async operations with persistent data
❌ Mistake | ✅ What to Do Instead | |
---|---|---|
Relying on loop variables inside closures | All callbacks reference the final loop value | Use let or IIFE to capture values per iteration |
Accidentally exposing internal state | Breaks encapsulation and invites bugs | Return only necessary interface functions |
Not realizing closure keeps memory alive | Can lead to performance issues or stale data | Clean up references when they're no longer needed |
🧩 Concept | 🔎 Description | 💡 Why It Matters |
---|---|---|
Closure | Function that retains access to outer scope | Enables private state and persistent logic |
Data Privacy | Keeps variables hidden from global access | Helps write safer and cleaner code |
Function Factory | Returns new functions with remembered context | Great for reusable utilities and configurations |
5. 🔄 JavaScript Event Loop and Asynchronous Behavior: Keep Your UI Responsive While Managing Time and Tasks
🛠️ Introduction
JavaScript is single-threaded, meaning it processes one line of code at a time. This raises a question: how does it handle things like network requests, timers, and user interactions without freezing?
The answer lies in the event loop—a built-in mechanism that allows asynchronous tasks to run in the background and update the app without blocking the main thread.
Whether you're working with setTimeout
, Promises
, or async/await
, understanding how the event loop works is essential for writing smooth, responsive applications.
Imagine a busy restaurant with one waiter (main thread):
- The waiter (JavaScript engine) takes orders (runs code line by line).
- Some orders (like boiling pasta) take time. Instead of waiting around, the waiter sends the task to the kitchen (Web APIs) and keeps taking other orders.
- Once the kitchen finishes, it sends the dish to the waiter, who serves it when ready.
This is how the event loop keeps service flowing without blocking.
- JavaScript executes synchronous code line by line.
- Tasks like calculations and function calls happen immediately.
- Some operations take time, like fetching data or waiting for user input.
- These tasks are delegated to the browser's Web APIs (e.g.,
setTimeout
,fetch
). - JavaScript keeps running other code while waiting for results.
- Once an async task finishes, its callback (function) is placed in the callback queue.
- The callback queue holds tasks waiting to be executed.
- Constantly checks if the main thread is free.
- If the call stack is empty, it takes tasks from the callback queue and runs them.
When you use setTimeout()
, JavaScript does NOT pause—instead:
- It delegates the timer to Web APIs.
- The main thread keeps running other code.
- Once the timer finishes, the callback moves to the callback queue.
- The event loop picks it up when the call stack is empty.
console.log("Start");
setTimeout(() => {
console.log("Timeout callback");
}, 1000);
console.log("End");
💬 Explanation:
"Start"
logs immediately.setTimeout()
schedules its callback via Web APIs and moves on."End"
logs next, without waiting.- After 1000ms, the event loop checks if the call stack is clear and runs
"Timeout callback"
from the callback queue.
✅ Takeaway: Timers don't block the main thread—they're handled separately and queued for later.
Promises handle async tasks efficiently using the microtask queue, which has higher priority than the callback queue.
🧐 How Promises Work
- A promise holds a future value (like API data).
- When a promise resolves or rejects, its
.then()
or.catch()
callback is scheduled. - The event loop always checks the microtask queue first before running normal callbacks.
const fetchData = () => {
return new Promise((resolve) => {
setTimeout(() => resolve("Data fetched"), 1000);
});
};
fetchData().then((result) => {
console.log(result);
});
console.log("Fetching data...");
// 🧠 Final output: "Fetching data..." → "Data fetched" (After 1 second)
💬 Explanation:
- The
fetchData
function returns a promise that resolves after 1 second. - The
.then()
schedules a callback in the microtask queue, which runs after the current call stack is empty "Fetching data..."
runs first."Data fetched"
runs after 1000ms, before any other task in the callback queue.
✅ Takeaway: Microtasks (from promises) run before setTimeouts, even with a 0ms delay.
console.log("A");
setTimeout(() => console.log("B"), 0);
Promise.resolve().then(() => console.log("C"));
console.log("D");
// 🧠 Final output: A → D → C → B
💬 Explanation:
- "A" and "D" run immediately (main thread).
- "C" comes next from the microtask queue.
- "B" follows from the callback queue, even though its delay is 0ms.
- Keeping the UI responsive while fetching data
- Running animations without freezing the thread
- Handling user input while waiting for network or database responses
- Writing performance-efficient hooks in React (e.g.,
useEffect
,useLayoutEffect
) - Managing complex async flows using job queues and batching
❌ Mistake | ✅ Fix It | |
---|---|---|
Blocking the main thread | UI freezes, delays user interaction | Break heavy tasks into async chunks or use Web Workers |
Misunderstanding timeout order | Promises resolve before timeout even with 0ms delay | Learn the event loop order: microtasks vs. callbacks |
Using await inside non-async |
Causes syntax errors or unexpected behavior | Always mark parent function as async |
🧩 Concept | 🔍 Description | 💡 Why It Matters |
---|---|---|
Single-threaded | JS runs one task at a time | Avoids race conditions, but can block |
Event loop | Manages background tasks and callbacks | Keeps code non-blocking and efficient |
Web APIs | Handle timers, fetch, DOM events externally | Enable async delegation |
Microtask Queue | Holds resolved promises and runs before callbacks | Crucial for timing-sensitive logic |
Callback Queue | Contains timers and events | Runs after microtasks are done |
Understand Binding Rules and Fix Common Mistakes in Real Projects
🛠️ Introduction
In JavaScript, this
refers to the object that’s “doing the calling.” But depending on how a function is defined or invoked, it can point to different things—an object, the global scope, or even be undefined
.
Misunderstanding this
leads to unpredictable behavior, especially in event handlers, classes, or setTimeout
callbacks. Knowing how this
works in different contexts helps avoid silent bugs and write clean, intentional code.
Imagine an assistant who works for different bosses depending on how they’re summoned:
- Called from a manager’s office? They report to that manager.
- Borrowed by HR with a manual override? They follow HR's orders.
- Left alone with no instructions? They either roaming around or report to his senior.
this
works exactly the same—it depends on how and where the function is called.
const person = {
name: "Alice",
greet() {
console.log(`Hello, my name is ${this.name}`);
},
};
person.greet(); // Hello, my name is Alice
💬 Explanation:
this
refers to the object to the left of the dot (person
).- This is called implicit binding, where the method knows its owner because of how it’s called.
function sayHello() {
console.log(`Hello, my name is ${this.name}`);
}
const user = { name: "John" };
sayHello.call(user); // Hello, my name is John
💬 Explanation:
- The function
sayHello()
doesn’t belong touser
, but we manually bindthis
using.call()
. - You can also use
.apply(user)
or create a reusable copy with.bind(user)
.
const student = {
name: "Emma",
subjects: ["Math", "Science"],
showSubjects() {
this.subjects.forEach((subject) => {
console.log(`${this.name} studies ${subject}`);
});
},
};
student.showSubjects();
// Emma studies Math
// Emma studies Science
💬 Explanation:
- Arrow functions don’t have their own
this
. - They inherit it from the enclosing scope, which is
showSubjects()
, sothis.name
works as expected.
const team = {
name: "Dev Squad",
announce() {
setTimeout(function () {
console.log(`Welcome to ${this.name}`);
}, 500);
},
};
team.announce(); // ❌ Likely "Welcome to undefined"
💬 Explanation:
- Regular functions like
function () {}
get their ownthis
—in this case, it defaults towindow
(orundefined
in strict mode). - ✅ Fix: Use an arrow function instead:
setTimeout(() => {
console.log(`Welcome to ${this.name}`);
}, 500);
- React class components need
.bind()
for method handlers - Event listeners often misplace
this
when used with callback functions - Timers and asynchronous callbacks break context without arrow functions
- DOM manipulation tools rely on correct
this
binding for internal logic this
inside libraries like Lodash or jQuery may differ depending on usage
❌ Mistake | ✅ How to Fix It | |
---|---|---|
Using regular functions inside objects | this becomes undefined |
Use method shorthand or arrow functions |
Calling methods without a context | this defaults to global or is undefined |
Use .call() , .bind() , or assign explicitly |
Mixing arrow and regular functions | Unexpected scope inheritance | Be intentional with arrow usage |
Assuming arrow functions bind this to caller |
They inherit from definition context | Know where the arrow was created |
🧩 Binding Type | 🔍 How It Works | 💡 When to Use It |
---|---|---|
Implicit | this points to object left of the dot |
Object methods |
Explicit | Manually assign with .call , .bind |
Reusing functions with custom context |
Arrow Function | Inherits from surrounding scope | Inside callbacks, timers, or loops |
Global | this is window (or undefined in strict mode) |
Avoid relying on global this |
Borrow Context, Control Execution, and Build Reusable Function Logic
🛠️ Introduction
In JavaScript, functions are first-class objects—they can be passed around and invoked in different contexts. To control what this
refers to when a function is executed, JavaScript provides three built-in methods: call
, apply
, and bind
.
These methods let you:
- Borrow functions from one object and use them in another.
- Control when and how a function runs.
- Maintain proper context in async code or event listeners.
Mastering these tools helps prevent bugs caused by incorrect this
, and lets you write more flexible, reusable code.
Imagine you need to drive your friend's car:
call
is like jumping in and driving right away.apply
is the same ride, but you pass in passengers as a list.bind
gives you the keys, but you choose when to drive later.
All three let you use someone else’s stuff—in this case, a function—with your own data and timing.
const person1 = { name: "Alice" };
const person2 = { name: "Bob" };
function introduce(age) {
console.log(`Hi, I'm ${this.name} and I'm ${age} years old.`);
}
introduce.call(person1, 25); // Hi, I'm Alice and I'm 25 years old.
introduce.call(person2, 30); // Hi, I'm Bob and I'm 30 years old.
💬 Explanation:
introduce
is a generic function..call()
invokes it immediately and setsthis
to the object we pass (person1
,person2
).- Remaining arguments are passed individually (
age
in this case).
introduce.apply(person1, [25]);
introduce.apply(person2, [30]);
💬 Explanation:
- Syntax is nearly identical to
call()
, but.apply()
expects arguments as an array. - Useful when the data already exists in array format.
const boundFunction = introduce.bind(person1, 28);
boundFunction(); // Hi, I'm Alice and I'm 28 years old.
💬 Explanation:
.bind()
returns a new function that remembersthis
and any preset arguments.- It does not execute immediately.
- Great for saving a function reference to use later (e.g., in event handlers).
- ✅ Preserving
this
in callbacks
button.addEventListener("click", obj.handleClick.bind(obj));
- ✅ Borrowing methods from one object
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments); // Treat arguments like an array
- ✅ Partial application or pre-filling arguments
const greetJohn = greet.bind(null, "John");
- ✅ Controlled reuse in frameworks
- React class components often use
.bind(this)
for event methods. - Libraries like Lodash allow customization using
.call()
and.bind()
.
- React class components often use
❌ Mistake | ✅ Fix It | |
---|---|---|
Forgetting to use .bind() in callbacks |
Loses correct this inside handlers |
Use .bind() or arrow functions |
Expecting .bind() to execute the function |
It only returns a new function—it doesn’t run | Call the returned function manually |
Confusing .call() vs .apply() |
Mixing up argument formats (comma vs array) | Use .call(a, b, c) , .apply(a, [b, c]) |
🧩 Method | 🔧 What It Does | 📌 When to Use |
---|---|---|
.call() |
Invokes function and sets this |
Immediate execution with individual arguments |
.apply() |
Invokes function with this and array |
Immediate execution with array-style arguments |
.bind() |
Returns new function with fixed this |
Deferred execution, event handling, reuse |
- ✅ Transforming Data in Arrays
- ✅ When and How to Use Them
- ✅ Multiple Real-Life Examples
Imagine you’re organizing a pile of clothes:
map
irons all items neatly.filter
removes worn-out pieces.reduce
folds everything into a neat bundle.
📝 Example 1: Using map
to Modify Items in an Array
const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
const doubled = numbers.map((n) => n * 2);
console.log(doubled); // Outputs: [2, 4, 6, 8, 10]
💡 Explanation: Each item in the array is transformed without changing the original array.
📝 Example 2: Filtering Specific Values
const ages = [12, 20, 17, 25, 30];
const adults = ages.filter((age) => age >= 18);
console.log(adults); // Outputs: [20, 25, 30]
💡 Explanation: filter
removes values that don’t match the condition.
📝 Example 3: Using reduce
to Sum Up Values
const prices = [10, 20, 30, 40];
const totalPrice = prices.reduce((total, price) => total + price, 0);
console.log(totalPrice); // Outputs: 100
💡 Explanation: reduce
starts at zero, then adds each item.
- Modifying and transforming data in APIs
- Filtering user lists based on conditions
- Summing up totals in e-commerce applications
- ✅ Scheduling Tasks Like a Pro
- ✅ Understanding Web APIs and Delayed Execution
- ✅ Clearing Timers with
clearTimeout
andclearInterval
setTimeout
acts like an alarm—it rings once after a delay.setInterval
behaves like recurring notifications—it rings repeatedly at set intervals.
📝 Example 1: Using setTimeout
to Delay Execution
setTimeout(() => console.log("Hello after 2 seconds"), 2000);
💡 Explanation: The function inside setTimeout
waits for 2 seconds before executing, allowing other code to continue running in the meantime.
📝 Example 2: Using setInterval
to Run a Function Repeatedly
let counter = 0;
const interval = setInterval(() => {
counter++;
console.log(`Count: ${counter}`);
if (counter === 5) clearInterval(interval); // Stop after 5 repetitions
}, 1000);
💡 Explanation: setInterval
runs every second until counter
reaches 5, at which point we call clearInterval()
to stop it.
- Countdown timers (e.g., auction bidding, flash sales)
- Auto-refreshing notifications (e.g., live sports scores)
- Delayed animations (e.g., showing tooltips after hovering)
- ✅ Say Goodbye to Callback Hell
- ✅ Writing Clean, Maintainable Asynchronous Code
- ✅ Handling Errors in Async Functions
You place an order at a restaurant (promise) and wait (await) for your food before eating.
📝 Example 1: Basic async
and await
Usage
async function fetchData() {
let response = await fetch("https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/todos/1");
let data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
}
fetchData();
💡 Explanation: await
pauses execution until the fetch request completes, ensuring we don’t access data
before it’s available.
📝 Example 2: Handling Errors in Async Code
async function fetchUserData() {
try {
let response = await fetch("https://invalid-url.com");
let data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
} catch (error) {
console.log("Error fetching data:", error.message);
}
}
fetchUserData();
💡 Explanation: Wrapping code inside try...catch
prevents the entire script from breaking if the request fails.
- Fetching data from APIs (e.g., retrieving user profiles)
- Handling authentication flows (e.g., logging in users)
- Waiting for animations to complete (e.g., fading effects in UI)
- ✅ Storing and Retrieving Data Easily
- ✅ Converting Objects to Strings
- ✅ Making Data Persistent
Think of localStorage
as a notebook where you can write information and retrieve it later—even after closing the browser.
📝 Example 1: Storing and Retrieving Data in localStorage
const user = { name: "Alice", age: 25 };
localStorage.setItem("user", JSON.stringify(user));
const retrievedUser = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("user"));
console.log(retrievedUser.name); // Outputs: Alice
💡 Explanation: localStorage
only stores strings, so we use JSON.stringify()
to store and JSON.parse()
to retrieve structured data.
📝 Example 2: Removing and Clearing Storage
localStorage.removeItem("user"); // Deletes specific data
localStorage.clear(); // Clears all stored data
💡 Explanation: removeItem
deletes one item, while clear
wipes everything from storage.
- Saving user preferences (dark mode, language settings)
- Storing shopping cart data in e-commerce websites
- Keeping temporary form inputs (e.g., auto-filled contact details)
- ✅ Creating Reusable Object Templates
- ✅ Understanding Constructors and Methods
- ✅ Inheritance with Classes
A toy factory produces different types of toys, but they all share a common blueprint. Classes work the same way in JavaScript—they allow you to create multiple objects using a shared structure.
📝 Example 1: Defining and Using a Class
class Toy {
constructor(name, price) {
this.name = name;
this.price = price;
}
display() {
console.log(`${this.name} costs $${this.price}`);
}
}
const toyCar = new Toy("Car", 10);
toyCar.display(); // Outputs: Car costs $10
💡 Explanation: The Toy
class acts as a template, allowing us to create multiple toy objects with shared properties and behaviors.
📝 Example 2: Inheriting from Another Class
class Vehicle {
constructor(type) {
this.type = type;
}
}
class Car extends Vehicle {
constructor(brand, model) {
super("Car");
this.brand = brand;
this.model = model;
}
}
const myCar = new Car("Tesla", "Model X");
console.log(myCar.type); // Outputs: Car
console.log(myCar.brand); // Outputs: Tesla
💡 Explanation: Car
inherits from Vehicle
, meaning all cars automatically have the type
property.
- Modeling game characters (e.g., player stats in RPGs)
- Structuring reusable UI components in React
- Managing user profiles in web apps (e.g., administrator, editor, viewer roles)
- ✅ Avoiding Common Mistakes and Bugs
- ✅ Making Code Safer and More Predictable
- ✅ Preventing Accidental Global Variables
Strict mode forces better coding practices and prevents accidental errors.
📝 Example 1: Preventing Undeclared Variables
"use strict";
x = 10; // Error! `x` is not declared
💡 Explanation: Without "use strict"
, JavaScript allows undeclared variables, which can cause unexpected bugs.
📝 Example 2: Restricting Accidental Modifications to Objects
"use strict";
const person = Object.freeze({ name: "Alice" });
person.name = "Bob"; // Error! Object properties cannot be changed
💡 Explanation: "use strict"
ensures objects remain immutable when frozen.
- Writing safer JavaScript for production
- Avoiding silent errors in large applications
- Improving debugging by catching mistakes early
- ✅ Preventing Unexpected Breakdowns
- ✅ Catching and Debugging Issues
- ✅ Writing Safer Code
Imagine you’re walking on a tightrope. Without a safety net, one mistake can cause a disaster. In JavaScript, errors can completely stop execution—but try...catch
acts as a safety net, preventing the script from crashing.
📝 Example 1: Basic Error Handling
try {
let result = 5 / 0;
console.log(result);
} catch (error) {
console.log("Error occurred:", error.message);
}
💡 Explanation: If an error happens inside try
, execution jumps to catch
, preventing the program from crashing.
📝 Example 2: Handling API Errors
async function fetchData() {
try {
let response = await fetch("https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/invalid");
let data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
} catch (error) {
console.log("Failed to fetch data:", error.message);
}
}
fetchData();
💡 Explanation: If the API request fails, instead of breaking the program, catch
handles the error gracefully.
- Debugging API failures (handling network issues)
- Managing user input validation (preventing invalid data from breaking forms)
- Safeguarding critical operations (error-proofing database transactions)
- ✅ Extracting Object Data Easily
- ✅ Making Object Manipulation Simpler
- ✅ Converting Objects into Arrays
Imagine a locker with multiple compartments—each holds valuable items (data). These methods help you retrieve the names, values, or full details of every compartment in an organized way.
📝 Example 1: Getting Object Keys
const person = { name: "Alice", age: 25 };
console.log(Object.keys(person)); // ["name", "age"]
💡 Explanation: Object.keys()
returns an array of property names, making it easy to loop over objects dynamically.
📝 Example 2: Getting Object Values
console.log(Object.values(person)); // ["Alice", 25]
💡 Explanation: Object.values()
returns an array of values, allowing you to process data easily.
📝 Example 3: Getting Both Keys and Values Together
console.log(Object.entries(person)); // [["name", "Alice"], ["age", 25]]
💡 Explanation: Object.entries()
returns both keys and values, making objects behave like arrays.
- Transforming objects into arrays (useful in database queries)
- Dynamically filtering object data (like sorting user profiles)
- Extracting configuration settings (handling complex app settings)
✅ Stop Function Flooding • Prevent Laggy UIs • Master Efficient Event Handling
🛠️ Introduction
In modern interfaces, user actions like typing, scrolling, resizing, or clicking can trigger JavaScript functions dozens or hundreds of times per second.
Without control, this leads to:
- 🔁 Wasteful computations
- 🐢 Sluggish performance
- 😵 Unintended behavior
Debounce and Throttle are essential patterns to rate-limit these functions and keep your UI snappy.
Debounce: Only runs after the user stops triggering the event. Throttle: Runs at most once every set interval, even if the event keeps firing.
Imagine someone spamming the mic in a group call:
- Debounce: They’re only allowed to speak once they stop pressing the button for a few seconds.
- Throttle: They're allowed to speak once every few seconds, no matter how many times they press.
This is how you regulate rapid event triggers like input
, scroll
, resize
, or button clicks.
<input type="text" id="search" placeholder="Search something..." />
function debounce(func, delay) {
let timeout;
return (...args) => {
clearTimeout(timeout); // 1️⃣ Cancel previous timer
timeout = setTimeout(() => {
func(...args); // 2️⃣ Call function if user paused
}, delay);
};
}
function handleSearchInput(event) {
console.log("Searching for:", event.target.value);
}
const debouncedSearch = debounce(handleSearchInput, 300);
document.getElementById("search").addEventListener("input", debouncedSearch);
💬 Explanation:
debounce()
creates a wrapper function that delays execution.- Every time the
input
event fires (on each keystroke), the previous timeout is cleared. - If the user stops typing for
300ms
,handleSearchInput()
is called. - We attach the debounced version to the input field with
addEventListener
.
🛠 Real-world benefit: Reduces unnecessary function calls during fast typing. Instead of calling search logic 20 times for 20 letters, it only runs once—after the user pauses.
<div style="height: 2000px; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #fff, #ddd);">
<h1>Scroll to see throttle in action</h1>
</div>
function throttle(func, limit) {
let lastCall = 0;
return (...args) => {
const now = Date.now();
if (now - lastCall >= limit) {
lastCall = now; // 1️⃣ Record the time of last call
func(...args); // 2️⃣ Run the actual function
}
};
}
function trackScroll() {
console.log("Scroll position:", window.scrollY);
}
const throttledScroll = throttle(trackScroll, 300);
window.addEventListener("scroll", throttledScroll);
💬 Explanation:
throttle()
returns a wrapper that limits how oftentrackScroll()
can run.- On each scroll, we check the current timestamp against
lastCall
. - If at least
300ms
have passed, we run the function and updatelastCall
. - All other scrolls during that interval are ignored.
- This reduces how many times your function runs while preserving responsiveness.
🛠 Real-world benefit: Keeps heavy scroll-related logic (like UI updates, animations, logging) from overwhelming the browser. Especially useful in infinite scrolls, sticky headers, and mobile navigation.
Use Debounce for:
- Search-as-you-type boxes
- Form field validation after typing
- Auto-saving form data after pause
- Typing events where you don’t want to spam the network or UI
Use Throttle for:
- Scroll-based animations
- Sticky headers on scroll
- Window resizing that triggers layout adjustments
- Preventing double-submission of buttons
😵 What Goes Wrong | ✅ Fix It | |
---|---|---|
Debouncing scroll events | Skips frames or progress updates | Use throttle for consistent rendering |
Forgetting to clear previous timeout | Delayed or overlapping executions | Always call clearTimeout() first |
Arbitrary delay values | UI feels sluggish or overly sensitive | Use 300ms for debounce, 100–250ms for throttle |
🚀 Technique | 🔍 Behavior | 🛠️ Best For |
---|---|---|
Debounce | Delays execution until user stops triggering | Input boxes, form validation, auto-save logic |
Throttle | Limits execution to once per time interval | Scroll, resize, spam prevention, animation pacing |
✅ Reduce Listeners • Dynamically Respond to UI • Keep DOM Logic Clean
🛠️ Introduction
Instead of attaching event listeners to every child element in your UI, you can attach one listener to a stable parent and handle events using event.target
.
This technique is called Event Delegation, and it’s especially useful when:
- Elements are added dynamically.
- You want performance efficiency.
- You’re managing large, interactive lists or containers.
Imagine throwing a party at a big venue:
- You don’t assign a bouncer to every guest.
- You post one bouncer at the entrance who checks each guest as they arrive.
- The bouncer decides who gets in based on their outfit or ID.
Event Delegation works the same way—listen once, react to any matching child event.
<ul id="tasks">
<li><button class="delete">❌</button> Finish project</li>
<li><button class="delete">❌</button> Call client</li>
<li><button class="delete">❌</button> Pay invoice</li>
</ul>
const tasks = document.getElementById("tasks");
tasks.addEventListener("click", (e) => {
if (e.target.classList.contains("delete")) {
const taskItem = e.target.closest("li");
taskItem.remove(); // 1️⃣ Remove the clicked task item
}
});
💬 Explanation:
- We attach one click listener to the
<ul id="tasks">
container. - When any button is clicked, we check if the clicked element has the
.delete
class. - If so, we find the closest
<li>
and remove it. - Even if new tasks are added dynamically later, the same listener still works.
🛠 Real-World Benefit
Without delegation, you’d need to: Attach listeners to every
<button>
, including new ones. Clean them up manually if the list gets updated.With delegation: You write less code and avoid memory leaks. You support dynamic content effortlessly.
<form id="signup-form">
<input name="name" placeholder="Name" />
<input name="email" placeholder="Email" />
</form>
const form = document.getElementById("signup-form");
form.addEventListener("focusin", (e) => {
if (e.target.matches("input")) {
e.target.style.borderColor = "green"; // 1️⃣ Style focused input
}
});
💬 Explanation:
focusin
bubbles (unlikefocus
), so we can delegate it from the form.- Every time an input gets focus, it’s styled.
- Works for any future inputs added to the form dynamically.
- Deleting tasks from dynamic to-do lists
- Styling or validating form fields without adding multiple listeners
- Closing modals or dropdowns via shared parent logic
- Handling navigation clicks in single-page apps
- Delegating swipe/touch events in mobile interfaces
❌ Mistake | ✅ Fix It | |
---|---|---|
Using e.currentTarget |
Always references the parent, not the clicked | Use e.target for the actual clicked element |
Not filtering event targets | Triggers unintended behavior | Use .matches() or .classList.contains() |
Attaching listeners to children | Doesn’t work with dynamic elements | Attach listener to a stable parent |
⚙️ Concept | 🔍 What It Does | 💡 Why It’s Helpful |
---|---|---|
Event Delegation | One parent listener handles all child interactions | Reduces code, handles dynamic content, improves performance |
✅ Master DOM Event Flow • Avoid Confusing Behaviors • Improve Event Architecture
🛠️ Introduction
DOM events don’t just fire and vanish—they follow a three-phase journey:
- Capturing (trickles down)
- Target (hits the actual element)
- Bubbling (bubbles up to parents)
By default, JavaScript uses the bubbling phase. But you can intercept events earlier with capturing or stop them with e.stopPropagation().
Understanding how event flow works is critical for debugging, composing layered UIs, and implementing clean event delegation.
Imagine there's a fight in a mall:
- Capturing phase: Security spots them from the top floor and follows them down.
- Target phase: They reach a store—now everyone’s watching.
- Bubbling phase: As they move toward the exit, shopkeepers react as they pass.
JavaScript events follow the same route—from the top of the DOM tree, root (<html>
), to the target element, then back up again.
<div id="card" style="padding: 1em; border: 1px solid gray;">
<button id="likeBtn">❤️ Like</button>
</div>
const card = document.getElementById("card");
const likeBtn = document.getElementById("likeBtn");
// Capturing phase
card.addEventListener(
"click",
() => {
console.log("Card (capturing)");
},
{ capture: true } // 1️⃣ Listen during capturing
);
// Target & Bubbling phases
card.addEventListener("click", () => {
console.log("Card (bubbling)");
});
likeBtn.addEventListener("click", (e) => {
console.log("Button clicked");
// Uncomment to stop bubbling:
// e.stopPropagation();
});
💬 Explanation
- Click the "Like" button → triggers a click event.
- Capture phase: Listener on
#card
runs first because{ capture: true }
was set. - Target phase: Listener on the button itself (
#likeBtn
) runs next. - Bubble phase: The non-capturing listener on
#card
runs last. - If you call
e.stopPropagation()
inside the button handler, the bubbling phase is canceled—"Card (bubbling)"
won’t run.
🛠 Real-World Benefit
- Helps trace event execution order when debugging UI behavior.
- Lets you intercept logic early with capture phase when needed.
- Gives you control to isolate component behavior, e.g., prevent clicks from escaping modals or dropdowns.
- Dropdown menus: Prevent outside clicks from closing them prematurely
- Modals and overlays: Stop background clicks from propagating
- Nested components: Prioritize parent vs child logic
- Event Delegation: Depends entirely on bubbling phase
❌ Mistake | ✅ What To Do Instead | |
---|---|---|
Relying only on bubbling | Some events like blur , focus don’t bubble |
Use { capture: true } or alternate events |
Forgetting stopPropagation() |
Parent logic unintentionally triggers | Isolate logic when needed |
Using too much capturing | Makes debugging harder, unintuitive order | Use capturing sparingly and deliberately |
📶 Phase | 🔁 Direction | 🔧 Listener Behavior |
---|---|---|
Capturing | Top → Target | Listeners run if { capture: true } |
Target | — | The clicked/focused element |
Bubbling | Target → Top | Default for most listeners |
- ✅ Understand the Garbage Collector
- ✅ Avoid Hidden Memory Leaks
- ✅ Keep Your Apps Fast and Lean
Imagine your app is working at a desk. It opens files (objects), stacks papers (variables), and loads folders (DOM elements). But if it never clears them off, the desk gets cluttered - and the app slows down.
JavaScript’s memory model automatically removes unused items (like tossing trash), but you still need to know what clutters the desk and how to keep it tidy.
function createUser() {
const user = {
name: "Saief",
skills: ["React", "TypeScript"],
};
return user;
}
const newUser = createUser();
💡 Explanation:
user
is stored in memory when the function runs.- When it’s returned and assigned to
newUser
, it remains reachable. - Once there are no more references, the garbage collector will reclaim that memory behind the scenes.
Memory leaks happen when data is no longer needed but is still held in memory, making the app heavier over time. Common causes:
- ❗ Forgotten timers or intervals
- ❗ Detached DOM nodes
- ❗ Closures keeping stale data
- ❗ Global variables that stick forever
function startCounter() {
setInterval(() => {
console.log("Running forever...");
}, 1000);
}
💡 What’s happening:
- This
setInterval
runs forever, and its closure holds a reference to everything insidestartCounter
. - Even if
startCounter()
finishes, the memory stays tied up. - 🔧 Fix: Clear the interval when it’s no longer needed with
clearInterval()
.
const container = document.getElementById("list");
let tempDiv = document.createElement("div");
tempDiv.textContent = "Temp";
container.appendChild(tempDiv);
container.removeChild(tempDiv); // Seems clean, right?
💡 Why it’s a problem:
- If something in your code still holds a reference to
tempDiv
, like a variable or event listener, the browser won’t garbage-collect it. - 🔧 Fix: Make sure to null out references and remove event listeners when nodes are removed.
- 🧹 Use
let
orconst
with clear scopes - 🧹 Remove event listeners and DOM references when elements are removed
- 🧹 Clear intervals and timeouts
- 🧹 Avoid global variables
- 🧹 Watch for long-lived closures (e.g. in single-page apps)
Pitfall | What It Causes | How to Avoid |
---|---|---|
Unused DOM still referenced | DOM nodes never get collected | Use null , removeEventListener() |
Intervals without cleanup | Functions live forever in memory | Always call clearInterval() |
Oversized closures | Unintentional references to large data | Isolate only what's needed in closures |
Leaky third-party libs | Hidden listeners or cache buildup | Inspect with dev tools, detach on unmount |
Term | Meaning | Tip |
---|---|---|
Garbage Collection | Automatic removal of unreachable memory | Happens behind the scenes, but not always perfectly |
Memory Leak | Memory kept alive but no longer needed | Most often caused by hanging references |
Reference | A variable or closure that keeps data alive | Use null or cleanup functions to break links |
- ✅ Understand Synchronous and Asynchronous Execution
- ✅ Prevent UI Freezing and Lag
- ✅ Write Smooth, Scalable Code
Imagine a person doing tasks one by one:
-
Blocking code is like waiting in line—you can’t move until the person ahead finishes.
-
Non-blocking code is like texting a friend while waiting for coffee—you’re able to keep doing other things without being stuck.
JavaScript, by default, runs in a single-threaded environment. But thanks to its event loop, it handles asynchronous actions without freezing your app.
console.log("Start");
function heavyTask() {
for (let i = 0; i < 1e9; i++) {} // Simulates a CPU-heavy task
}
heavyTask();
console.log("End");
💡 Explanation:
- JavaScript executes
heavyTask()
before moving on. - The
console.log("End")
won’t run untilheavyTask
completes. - 🛑 This blocks the thread - nothing else can happen in the meantime.
📌 Happens often with:
- Large loops or computations
- Sync file reading
- Slow regex or JSON parsing
console.log("Start");
setTimeout(() => {
console.log("Async Task");
}, 1000);
console.log("End");
💡 Explanation:
setTimeout()
is deferred via the event loop, scheduled to run later.console.log("End")
happens immediately, without waiting.- ✅ This lets JavaScript continue executing other code while waiting for a task to complete.
📌 Common non-blocking patterns:
setTimeout
/setInterval
Promises
/async-await
fetch
and other I/O operations
JavaScript uses:
- Call Stack: Tracks functions being executed
- Web APIs / Tasks: Offloads async functions like
setTimeout
andfetch
- Callback Queue: Stores messages waiting to be processed
- Event Loop: Continuously checks if the stack is empty and pushes queued tasks
✅ This architecture lets JavaScript appear "multithreaded" even on a single thread, without blocking user interaction.
console.log("Start");
setTimeout(() => {
console.log("Delayed task");
}, 0);
for (let i = 0; i < 1e9; i++) {} // Blocking loop
console.log("End");
💡 Explanation:
- Even with a 0ms delay, the loop must finish before the
setTimeout
runs. - Shows how blocking code still pauses async callbacks until the stack clears.
- Reminder: async is only helpful if you avoid blocking tasks altogether.
Mistake | Why It’s a Problem | What to Do Instead |
---|---|---|
Mixing heavy sync logic with UI | Makes buttons freeze or lag | Offload with web workers or async chunks |
Assuming setTimeout(..., 0) is instant |
Gets delayed if the stack is busy | Keep critical code light and fast |
Blocking API data with sync loops | UI remains stuck until data loads | Use fetch , Promises, or async-await |
- Keeping UI responsive while fetching data
- Animating while processing backend requests
- Non-blocking form validation
- Lazy loading content in single-page apps
Type | Behavior | Use Case |
---|---|---|
Blocking (Sync) | Waits for each step to finish | Only use for simple, quick tasks |
Non-Blocking (Async) | Frees up the thread while waiting | Essential for network, timers, smooth UX |
- ✅ Make Bugs Easier to Catch
- ✅ Simplify Unit Testing
- ✅ Keep Your Logic Clean and Scalable
A pure function is like a chemistry experiment—same ingredients, same result, no mess. A function with side effects is like cooking—chop onions and suddenly you’re crying, spilled sauce, and the fire alarm’s going off.
If you want clean results, keep your logic in the lab. Add the messy stuff (side effects) only when needed—and isolate it.
function add(a, b) {
return a + b;
}
💡 Explanation:
- Takes input → returns output
- Doesn’t change external variables, DOM, or state
- No surprises, no dependencies—just math
- 🔍 Easy to test: Same inputs will always return the same outputs
let count = 0;
function increment() {
count += 1;
console.log("Current count:", count);
}
💡 Explanation:
- Modifies
count
(global state) - Prints to console (external output)
⚠️ Makes testing harder because output depends on outside variables and the environment
Before - Hard to Test
function saveName(name) {
localStorage.setItem("user", name); // Direct side effect
}
After - Logic First, Side Effect Second
function getSavePayload(name) {
return { key: "user", value: name }; // Pure
}
function saveToStorage(payload) {
localStorage.setItem(payload.key, payload.value); // Side effect isolated
}
💡 Why This Matters:
getSavePayload()
is predictable and easy to test- You can mock
saveToStorage()
in integration tests - Keeps business logic and messy operations separated
function calculateDiscount(price, percent) {
return price - price * (percent / 100);
}
// Test case
console.log(calculateDiscount(100, 20)); // ✅ Always returns 80
- ✅ No logs
- ✅ No DOM manipulation
- ✅ No dependencies Just input → output. That’s testing gold.
🚩 Issue | 😵 Problem | ✅ Solution |
---|---|---|
Mixing UI logic with business rules | Makes unit testing a nightmare | Move calculations to a pure helper |
Logging or mutating inside logic | Pollutes test output | Separate concerns—log outside the core |
Globals inside functions | Makes behavior unpredictable | Pass everything in via parameters |
- Utility functions (calculations, validations, formatting)
- Redux reducers and functional pipelines
- Financial or form logic
- Framework components with separated logic and effects
🔹 Concept | 🔎 What It Means | 💡 Why It Matters |
---|---|---|
Pure Function | No side effects, predictable output | Easy to test, debug, and reuse |
Side Effect | A change outside the function (DOM, state) | Keep separate for cleaner architecture & tests |