JavaScript Use Strict

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JavaScript Use Strict
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"use strict"; Defines that JavaScript code should be executed in "strict mode".

The "use strict" Directive
The "use strict" directive is new in JavaScript 1.8.5 (ECMAScript version 5).

It is not a statement, but a literal expression, ignored by earlier versions of JavaScript.

The purpose of "use strict" is to indicate that the code should be executed in "strict mode".

With strict mode, you can not, for example, use undeclared variables.

Strict mode is supported in:
IE from version 10. Firefox from version 4.
Chrome from version 13. Safari from version 5.1.
Opera from version 12.

Declaring Strict Mode
Strict mode is declared by adding "use strict"; to the beginning of a script or a function.

Declared at the beginning of a script, it has global scope (all code in the script will execute in strict mode):

Example
"use strict";
x = 3.14;       // This will cause an error because x is not declared
»
Example
"use strict";
myFunction();

function myFunction() {
    y = 3.14;   // This will also cause an error because y is not declared
}
»
Declared inside a function, it has local scope (only the code inside the function is in strict mode):

x = 3.14;       // This will not cause an error.
myFunction();

function myFunction() {
   "use strict";
    y = 3.14;   // This will cause an error
}
»
The "use strict"; Syntax
The syntax, for declaring strict mode, was designed to be compatible with older versions of JavaScript.

Compiling a numeric literal (4 + 5;) or a string literal ("John Doe";) in a JavaScript program has no side effects. It simply compiles to a non existing variable and dies.

So "use strict"; only matters to new compilers that "understand" the meaning of it.

Why Strict Mode?
Strict mode makes it easier to write "secure" JavaScript.

Strict mode changes previously accepted "bad syntax" into real errors.

As an example, in normal JavaScript, mistyping a variable name creates a new global variable. In strict mode, this will throw an error, making it impossible to accidentally create a global variable.

In normal JavaScript, a developer will not receive any error feedback assigning values to non-writable properties.

In strict mode, any assignment to a non-writable property, a getter-only property, a non-existing property, a non-existing variable, or a non-existing object, will throw an error.

Not Allowed in Strict Mode
Using a variable, without declaring it, is not allowed:

"use strict";
x = 3.14;                // This will cause an error
»

Objects are variables too.

Using an object, without declaring it, is not allowed:

"use strict";
x = {p1:10, p2:20};      // This will cause an error
»

Deleting a variable (or object) is not allowed.

"use strict";
var x = 3.14;
delete x;                // This will cause an error
»

Deleting a function is not allowed.

"use strict";
function x(p1, p2) {};
delete x;                // This will cause an error
»

Duplicating a parameter name is not allowed:

"use strict";
function x(p1, p1) {};   // This will cause an error
»

Octal numeric literals are not allowed:

"use strict";
var x = 010;             // This will cause an error
»

Escape characters are not allowed:

"use strict";
var x = \010;            // This will cause an error
»

Writing to a read-only property is not allowed:

"use strict";
var obj = {};
Object.defineProperty(obj, "x", {value:0, writable:false});

obj.x = 3.14;            // This will cause an error
»

Writing to a get-only property is not allowed:

"use strict";
var obj = {get x() {return 0} };

obj.x = 3.14;            // This will cause an error
»

Deleting an undeletable property is not allowed:

"use strict";
delete Object.prototype; // This will cause an error
»

The string "eval" cannot be used as a variable:

"use strict";
var eval = 3.14;         // This will cause an error
»

The string "arguments" cannot be used as a variable:

"use strict";
var arguments = 3.14;    // This will cause an error
»

The with statement is not allowed:

"use strict";
with (Math){x = cos(2)}; // This will cause an error
»

For security reasons, eval() is not allowed to create variables in the scope from which it was called:

"use strict";
eval ("var x = 2");
alert (x);               // This will cause an error
»

In function calls like f(), the this value was the global object. In strict mode, it is now undefined.

Future Proof!
Future reserved keywords are not allowed in strict mode. These are:

implements
interface
let
package
private
protected
public
static
yield
"use strict";
var public = 1500;      // This will cause an error
»

Watch Out!
The "use strict" directive is only recognized at the beginning of a script or a function.


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