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 was new in 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.
All modern browsers support "use strict" except Internet Explorer 9 and lower:
| Directive | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "use strict" | 13.0 | 10.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 12.1 |
The numbers in the table specify the first browser version that fully supports the directive.
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, so IE 9 will not throw an error even if it does not understand it.
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
Try it Yourself »
Example
"use strict";
myFunction();
function myFunction()
y = 3.14; // This will also cause an error
because y is not declared
Try it Yourself »
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
Try it Yourself »
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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
Try it Yourself »
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
Try it Yourself »
Deleting a variable (or object) is not allowed.
"use strict";
var x = 3.14;
delete x; // This
will cause an error
Try it Yourself »
Deleting a function is not allowed.
"use strict";
function x(p1, p2) ;
delete x;
// This will cause an error
Try it Yourself »
Duplicating a parameter name is not allowed:
"use strict";
function x(p1, p1) ; // This will cause an error
Try it Yourself »
Octal numeric literals are not allowed:
"use strict";
var x = 010; // This
will cause an error
Try it Yourself »
Octal escape characters are not allowed:
"use strict";
var x = "10"; // This will cause an error
Try it Yourself »
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
Try it Yourself »
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
Try it Yourself »
Deleting an undeletable property is not allowed:
"use strict";
delete Object.prototype; // This will cause an error
Try it Yourself »
The string "eval" cannot be used as a variable:
"use strict";
var eval = 3.14; // This will cause an error
Try it Yourself »
The string "arguments" cannot be used as a variable:
"use strict";
var arguments = 3.14; // This will cause an error
Try it Yourself »
The with statement is not allowed:
"use strict";
with (Math)x = cos(2); // This will cause an error
Try it Yourself »
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
Try it Yourself »
In function calls like f(), the this value was the global object. In strict mode, it is now undefined.
Future Proof!
Keywords reserved for future JavaScript versions can NOT be used as variable
names in strict mode.
These are:
- implements
- interface
- let
- package
- private
- protected
- public
- static
- yield
"use strict";
var public = 1500; // This will cause an error
Try it Yourself »
Watch Out!
The "use strict" directive is only recognized at the beginning of a script
or a function.
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