Why Does This JavaScript Code Work Without a Semicolon?

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Asked By CuriousCoder42 On

I came across a snippet of JavaScript that seems to compile even though it's missing a semicolon between the `node.getLispExpression()` call and the closing curly brace. I understand that JavaScript has automatic semicolon insertion (ASI), but I thought that needed a newline character to trigger it. Can anyone explain how this code is working without throwing an error?

4 Answers

Answered By DevDude99 On

Just remember, a closing curly brace indicates the end of a block or function, which also gives JavaScript the signal to insert a semicolon. As for the lombok lost on semicolons, it can be annoying, but honestly, once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it’s not too problematic.

Answered By SyntaxSorcerer On

In JavaScript, the automatic semicolon insertion can happen in more situations than just when there's a line break. There's a rule that if the next token is a closing curly brace `}`, a semicolon gets inserted before that. So, even without a newline, the absence of a semicolon before a `}` doesn't break the code. It's a bit tricky, but that's how it parses! You can read more about it in the MDN documentation on automatic semicolon insertion.

Answered By ScriptSleuth On

Good point! I found that if there’s a closing curly brace right after a statement, JavaScript will automatically insert the semicolon for you. That's why your code runs fine. If you're interested, check out some resources on Google about JavaScript's automatic semicolon insertion rules. It's surprisingly fun to learn how flexible the language can be!

Answered By CodeNinja88 On

You might be confusing the requirements for semicolons. They aren't always mandatory. In this case, there’s only one statement on that line due to the arrow function. The confusion often arises because of how arrow functions work. If you replaced `(node) => {return node.getLispExpression()}` with a named function, it might feel cleaner and less jarring.

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