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JavaScript JavaScript Loops, Arrays and Objects Simplify Repetitive Tasks with Loops Introducing Loops, Arrays and Objects

Randolph Judy
PLUS
Randolph Judy
Courses Plus Student 28,198 Points
Posted by Randolph Judy
Randolph Judy
Courses Plus Student 28,198 Points

Optional parameters in JavaScript Functions

Is there a keyword that can be used to define optional arguments when declaring functions in JavaScript ? I have worked with other languages where this is possible.

2 Answers

Dave McFarland
STAFF
Dave McFarland
Treehouse Teacher
Dave McFarland
Dave McFarland
Treehouse Teacher

HI Randolph Judy

No, that feature isn't currently in JavaScript. However, it is proposed in ECMAScript 6 (the next version of JavaScript): https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Functions/Default_parameters

However, you can sort of fake it like this: 

function myFunction(a, b, c) {
   a = a || 'default a';
   b = b || 'default b';
   c = c || 'default c';
}

In this example, if you call this function without passing any parameters, then a, b and c get set to a default value. This won't work, however, if you are expecting 0 as a possible value, because JavaScript treats the number 0 as a false value. In that case you can do something like this:

function myFunction(a, b, c) {
   if (a === undefined) {
       a = 'default a';
   };
   if (b === undefined) {
       b = 'default b';
   };
   if (c === undefined) {
       c = 'default c';
   };
}

Also keep in mind that with this method, you can't skip 'a', but still pass 'b' and 'c' to the function.

D P
D P
3,503 Points
D P
D P
3,503 Points

You could also combine your two approaches by using the ternary operator:

function myFunction(a, b, c) {
   a = a !== undefined ? a : 'default a';
   b = b !== undefined ? b : 'default b';
   c = c !== undefined ? c : 'default c';
}

This isn't "better" but I like it because it's visually apparent that you're setting defaults and you don't have to worry about the scenario where you might have a 0 passed as an argument.

Azriel Garcia
Azriel Garcia
6,881 Points
Azriel Garcia
Azriel Garcia
6,881 Points

technically all params are optional when calling the function :) you can even call it with more params then you defined as well