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JavaScript JavaScript Basics (Retired) Making Decisions with Conditional Statements Add a Final Else Clause

Posted by datadude
datadude
730 Points

use of semi-colons in code-block

In this code example, where the code is provided by the teacher, there are no semi-colons in the code-bocks of the if and else-if clauses.

Does the use of semi-colons here make a difference? Is it better to use or not to use them?

script.js 
var isAdmin = false;
var isStudent = false;

if ( isAdmin ) {
    alert('Welcome administrator')
} else if (isStudent) {
    alert('Welcome student')
}
index.html 
<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html>
<head>
  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
  <title>JavaScript Basics</title>
</head>
<body>
<script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

2 Answers

James Kim
James Kim
8,475 Points
James Kim
James Kim
8,475 Points

It may seem that semi-colons are unnecessary or not needed, but it is a good practice. Semi-colons indicate where the statement ends and move on to the next one. There are also few javascript methods and functions that require semi-colons like the for loop. So in the end I would recommend for you to use them for good practice and it is also part of JavaScript etiquette.

datadude
datadude
730 Points

That makes sense.

Davis Vilums
Davis Vilums
18,105 Points
Davis Vilums
Davis Vilums
18,105 Points

Semi-colons are not obligatory anymore, you can see a video by Kyle Robinson Young here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsfbh17Ax9I why it is so.

datadude
datadude
730 Points

thanks!