# JavaScript style guide
We use [Airbnb's JavaScript Style Guide][airbnb-style-guide] and it's accompanying linter to manage most of our JavaScript style guidelines.
In addition to the style guidelines set by Airbnb, we also have a few specific rules listed below.
> **Tip:**
You can run eslint locally by running `yarn eslint`
## Arrays
- [1.1](#avoid-foreach) **Avoid ForEach when mutating data** Use `map`, `reduce` or `filter` instead of `forEach` when mutating data. This will minimize mutations in functions ([which is aligned with Airbnb's style guide][airbnb-minimize-mutations])
```
// bad
users.forEach((user, index) => {
user.id = index;
});
// good
const usersWithId = users.map((user, index) => {
return Object.assign({}, user, { id: index });
});
```
## Functions
- [2.1](#limit-params) **Limit number of parameters** If your function or method has more than 3 parameters, use an object as a parameter instead.
```
// bad
function a(p1, p2, p3) {
// ...
};
// good
function a(p) {
// ...
};
```
## Classes & constructors
- [3.1](#avoid-constructor-side-effects) **Avoid side effects in constructors** Avoid making some operations in the `constructor`, such as asynchronous calls, API requests and DOM manipulations. Prefer moving them into separate functions. This will make tests easier to write and code easier to maintain.
```javascript
// bad
class myClass {
constructor(config) {
this.config = config;
axios.get(this.config.endpoint)
}
}
// good
class myClass {
constructor(config) {
this.config = config;
}
makeRequest() {
axios.get(this.config.endpoint)
}
}
const instance = new myClass();
instance.makeRequest();
```
- [3.2](#avoid-classes-to-handle-dom-events) **Avoid classes to handle DOM events** If the only purpose of the class is to bind a DOM event and handle the callback, prefer using a function.
```
// bad
class myClass {
constructor(config) {
this.config = config;
}
init() {
document.addEventListener('click', () => {});
}
}
// good
const myFunction = () => {
document.addEventListener('click', () => {
// handle callback here
});
}
```
- [3.3](#element-container) **Pass element container to constructor** When your class manipulates the DOM, receive the element container as a parameter.
This is more maintainable and performant.
```
// bad
class a {
constructor() {
document.querySelector('.b');
}
}
// good
class a {
constructor(options) {
options.container.querySelector('.b');
}
}
```
## Type Casting & Coercion
- [4.1](#use-parseint) **Use ParseInt** Use `ParseInt` when converting a numeric string into a number.
```
// bad
Number('10')
// good
parseInt('10', 10);
```
## CSS Selectors
- [5.1](#use-js-prefix) **Use js prefix** If a CSS class is only being used in JavaScript as a reference to the element, prefix the class name with `js-`
```
// bad
// good
```
## Modules
- [6.1](#use-absolute-paths) **Use absolute paths for nearby modules** Use absolute paths if the module you are importing is less than two levels up.
```
// bad
import GitLabStyleGuide from '~/guides/GitLabStyleGuide';
// good
import GitLabStyleGuide from '../GitLabStyleGuide';
```
- [6.2](#use-relative-paths) **Use relative paths for distant modules** If the module you are importing is two or more levels up, use a relative path instead of an absolute path.
```
// bad
import GitLabStyleGuide from '../../../guides/GitLabStyleGuide';
// good
import GitLabStyleGuide from '~/GitLabStyleGuide';
```
- [6.3](#global-namespace) **Do not add to global namespace**
- [6.4](#domcontentloaded) **Do not use DOMContentLoaded in non-page modules** Imported modules should act the same each time they are loaded. `DOMContentLoaded` events are only allowed on modules loaded in the `/pages/*` directory because those are loaded dynamically with webpack.
## Security
- [7.1](#avoid-xss) **Avoid XSS** Do not use `innerHTML`, `append()` or `html()` to set content. It opens up too many vulnerabilities.
## ESLint
- [8.1](#disable-eslint-file) **Disabling ESLint in new files** Do not disable ESLint when creating new files. Existing files may have existing rules disabled due to legacy compatibility reasons but they are in the process of being refactored.
- [8.2](#disable-eslint-rule) **Disabling ESLint rule** Do not disable specific ESLint rules. Due to technical debt, you may disable the following rules only if you are invoking/instantiating existing code modules
- [no-new][no-new]
- [class-method-use-this][class-method-use-this]
> Note: Disable these rules on a per line basis. This makes it easier to refactor in the future. E.g. use `eslint-disable-next-line` or `eslint-disable-line`
[airbnb-style-guide]: https://github.com/airbnb/javascript
[airbnb-minimize-mutations]: https://github.com/airbnb/javascript#testing--for-real
[no-new]: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/no-new
[class-method-use-this]: http://eslint.org/docs/rules/class-methods-use-this