Simplifying JavaScript Using Conditionals

This article will describe a few simple ways to condense and simplify your JavaScript code.

Did you know that SuiteScript (NetSuite programing language) is built off of JavaScript?

About Conditional Statements

Conditional statements are fundamental to programming, enabling NetSuite developers to execute specific blocks of code based on certain conditions. In JavaScript, these conditionals are pivotal for decision-making processes, such as validating user input, controlling the flow of execution, and implementing business logic. However, as applications grow in complexity, managing multiple and nested conditionals can lead to code that is difficult to read, maintain, and debug.

This article explores best practices and techniques to simplify and enhance the readability of conditional statements in JavaScript. By adopting these strategies, developers can write cleaner, more efficient code that is easier to understand and maintain.

Simple “AND”, “OR” check

• You can use “&&” to conditionally run a line of code:

let x = 5;
let y = 0;
y > 0 && x = x + 1; 

In this example, the x = x + 1 part will not execute since y > 0 is false. You can use this method to remove “if” statements and shrink your code base.

• You can use “||” to conditionally run a line of code. This is similar to the above but is used much less often.  

“In-line if/else” statement

Use this to write condensed and convenient if/else statements

let x = 5;
let y = 0;
z = (x + y > 3) ? 6 : 7;

The syntax is as follows: “conditional” ? code to execute if conditional is true : code to execute if conditional is false

This statement is a really handy tool to cut down on your code base and can be easy to read once you get used to it.

Conclusion

Simplifying conditional statements in JavaScript is essential for writing clean, maintainable, and readable code. By adopting best practices like those outlined in this article, NetSuite and SuiteCommerce developers (as well as many others) can enhance the clarity and efficiency of their code.

Implementing these strategies not only improves code quality but also facilitates easier debugging and future enhancements. As applications evolve, maintaining simplicity in conditional logic will contribute to the overall robustness and scalability of the codebase.

Got stuck on a step in this article?

We like to update our blogs and articles to make sure they help resolve any troubleshooting difficulties you are having. Sometimes, there is a related feature to enable or a field to fill out that we miss during the instructions. If this article didn't resolve the issue, please use the chat and let us know so that we can update this article!