for_in_loop_over_array.md

Why shouldn't I 'for ... in' to iterate an array?

Thanks to vava for answering this

First of all, never use a for in loop to enumerate over an array. Never. Use good old for(var i = 0; i<arr.length; i++).

The reason behind this is the following: each object in JavaScript has a special field called prototype. Everything you add to that field is going to be accessible on every object of that type. Suppose you want all arrays to have a cool new function called filter_0 that will filter zeroes out.

Array.prototype.filter_0 = function() {
    var res = [];
    for (var i = 0; i < this.length; i++) {
        if (this[i] != 0) {
            res.push(this[i]);
        }
    }
    return res;
};

console.log([0, 5, 0, 3, 0, 1, 0].filter_0());
//prints [5,3,1]

This is a standard way to extend objects and add new methods. Lots of libraries do this. However, let's look at how for in works now:

var listeners = ["a", "b", "c"];
for (o in listeners) {
    console.log(o);
}
//prints:
//  0
//  1
//  2
//  filter_0

Do you see? It suddenly thinks filter_0 is another array index. Of course, it is not really a numeric index, but for in enumerates through object fields, not just numeric indexes. So we're now enumerating through every numeric index and filter_0 now. But filter_0 is not a field of any particular array object, every array object has this property now.

Luckily, all objects have a hasOwnProperty method, which checks if this field really belongs to the object itself or if it is simply inherited from the prototype chain and thus belongs to all the objects of that type.

for (o in listeners) {
    if (listeners.hasOwnProperty(o)) {

21 console.log(o); } } //prints: // 0 // 1 // 2

Note, that although this code works as expected for arrays, you should never, never, use for in and for each in for arrays. Remember that for in enumerates the fields of an object, not array indexes or values.

var listeners = ["a", "b", "c"];
listeners.happy = "Happy debugging";

for (o in listeners) {
    if (listeners.hasOwnProperty(o)) {
       console.log(o);
    }
}

 //prints:
 //  0
 //  1
 //  2
 //  happy

use_of_strict.md

What does 'use strict;' do?

Thanks to Pascal-Martin at StackOverflow

This article about that might interest you: John Resig - ECMAScript 5 Strict Mode, JSON, and More

To quote some interesting parts:

Strict Mode is a new feature in ECMAScript 5 that allows you to place a program, or a function, in a "strict" operating context. This strict context prevents certain actions from being taken and throws more exceptions.

And:

Strict mode helps out in a couple ways:

• It catches some common coding bloopers, throwing exceptions.
• It prevents, or throws errors, when relatively "unsafe" actions are taken (such as gaining access to the global object).
• It disables features that are confusing or poorly thought out.

Also note you can apply "strict mode" to the whole file... Or you can use it only for a specific function (still quoting from John Resig's article):

// Non-strict code...

(function(){
  "use strict";
 
  // Define your library strictly...
})();

// Non-strict code... 

Which might be helpful if you have to mix old and new code ;-)

So, I suppose it's a bit like the "use strict" you can use in Perl (hence the name?): it helps you make fewer errors, by detecting more things that could lead to breakages.