ECMAScript 5 - JavaScript 5
What is ECMAScript 5?
ECMAScript 5 is also known as ES5 and ECMAScript 2009
It is actually JavaScript version 1.8.5, but it is also called JavaScript 5.
This chapter introduces some of the most important features of ES5.
ECMAScript 5 New Features
- The "use strict" Directive
- String.trim()
- Array.isArray()
- Array.forEach()
- Array.map()
- Array.filter()
- Array.reduce()
- Array.every()
- Array.indexOf()
- Array.lastIndexOf()
- JSON.parse()
- JSON.stringify()
ECMAScript 5 Syntactical Changes
- Trailing commas in array and object litterals
- Multiline string litterals
- Reserved words as propery names
The "use strict" Directive
"use strict" defines that the JavaScript code should be executed in "strict mode".
With strict mode you can, for example, not use undeclared variables.
You can use strict mode in all your programs. It helps you to write cleaner code, like preventing you from using undeclared variables.
"use strict" is just a string expression. Old browsers will not throw an error if they don't understand it.
Read more in JS Strict Mode.
String.trim()
String.trim() removes whitespace from both sides of a string.
Read more in JS String Methods.
Array.isArray()
Checks whether an object is an array.
Example
function myFunction() {
var fruits = ["Banana", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"];
var x = document.getElementById("demo");
x.innerHTML = Array.isArray(fruits);
}
Try it Yourself »
Read more in JS Arrays.
Array.forEach()
The forEach() method calls a function once for each array element.
Example
var txt = "";
var numbers = [4, 9, 16, 25];
numbers.forEach(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
txt = txt + value + "<br>";
}
Try it Yourself »
Learn more in JS Array Iteration Methods.
Array.map()
The map() method creates a new array by performing a function on each array element.
This example multiplies each array value by 2:
Example
var numbers1 = [4, 9, 16, 25];
var numbers2 = numbers1.map(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
return value * 2;
}
Try it Yourself »
Array.filter()
The filter() method creates a new array with all array elements that passes a test.
This example creates a new array from elements with a value equal to or larger than 18:
Example
var numbers = [4, 9, 16, 25];
var over18 =
numbers.filter(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
return value > 18;
}
Try it Yourself »
Array.reduce()
The reduce() method reduces an array to a single variable.
This example finds the sum of all numbers in an array:
Example
var numbers1 = [4, 9, 16, 25];
var sum = numbers1.reduce(myFunction);
function myFunction(total, value, index, array) {
return total + value;
}
Try it Yourself »
Array.every()
The every() method checks if all array values pass a test.
This example checks if all values are over 18:
Example
var numbers = [4, 9, 16, 25, 29];
var allOver18 =
numbers.every(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
return
value > 18;
}
Try it Yourself »
Array.some()
The some() method checks if some array values pass a test.
This example checks if some values are over 18:
Example
var numbers = [4, 9, 16, 25, 29];
var allOver18 =
numbers.some(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
return
value > 18;
}
Try it Yourself »
Array.indexOf()
Search an array for an element value and returns its position.
Example
var fruits = ["Banana", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"];
var a = fruits.indexOf("Apple");
Try it Yourself »
Learn more in JS Array Iteration Methods.
Array.lastIndexOf()
Array.lastIndexOf() is the same as Array.indexOf(), but searches from the end of the array.
Example
var fruits = ["Banana", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"];
var a = fruits.lastIndexOf("Apple");
Try it Yourself »
Learn more in JS Array Iteration Methods.
JSON.parse()
A common use of JSON is to receive data from a web server.
Imagine you received this text string from a web server:
'{"name":"John", "age":30, "city":"New York"}'
The JavaScript function JSON.parse() is used to convert the text into a JavaScript object:
var obj = JSON.parse('{"name":"John", "age":30, "city":"New
York"}');
Try it Yourself »
Read more in our JSON Tutorial.
JSON.stringify()
A common use of JSON is to send data to a web server.
When sending data to a web server, the data has to be a string.
Imagine we have this object in JavaScript:
var obj = {"name":"John", "age":30, "city":"New York"};
Use the JavaScript function JSON.stringify() to convert it into a string.
var myJSON = JSON.stringify(obj);
The result will be a string following the JSON notation.
myJSON is now a string, and ready to be sent to a server:
Example
var obj = {"name":"John", "age":30, "city":"New York"};
var myJSON = JSON.stringify(obj);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = myJSON;
Try it Yourself »
Read more in our JSON Tutorial.
Trailing Commas
ECMAScript 5 allows trailing commas in object and array definitions:
Object Example
person = {
firstName: "John",
lastName:"
Doe",
age:46,
}
Array Example
points = [
1,
5,
10,
25,
40,
100,
];
WARNING !!!
Internet Explorer 8 will crash.
JSON does not allow trailing commas.
JSON:
person = {firstName:"John", lastName:"Doe", age:46}
JSON:
points = [40, 100, 1, 5, 25, 10];
Strings Over Multiple Lines
ECMAScript 5 allows string litterals over multiple lines if escaped with a backslash:The \ method might not have universal support.
Older browsers might treat
the spaces around the backslash differently.
Some older browsers do
not allow spaces behind the \ character.
A safer way to break up a string litteral, is to use string addition:
Reserwed Words as Property Names
ECMAScript 5 allows reserved words as property names:
