After watching a very funny javascript video I was inspired to start omitting semicolons at the end of the lines in my code. At first it seemed weird, since in Java and other languages they are necessary for the compiler to function properly. This got me wondering, "how does the compiler know the statements should end if we don't use semicolons?". Welp, it turns out that the compiler does some magical thing called "automatic semicolon insertion", and the rules are quite complicated. If you want to read into it, here's a great link to the source that I a stack exchange poster noted in his answer.
Rules of ASI link: http://es5.github.io/#x7.9
There are arguments for why you should never use semicolons and why you should always use semicolons. I'm trying to write my programs on the never side, basically for these reasons:
There are arguments for why you should never use semicolons and why you should always use semicolons. I'm trying to write my programs on the never side, basically for these reasons:
- Cleaner looking code style.
- Less keystrokes.
Tell Webstorm What You Want
My Webstorm install defaulted to giving me warnings on every line "Unterminated statement" where there could have been a semicolon placed. This was rather annoying and distracting so I wanted to turn it off.
The first thing I did was uncheck the Unterminated Statements in
Webstorm -> Preferences -> Inspections -> Javascript -> Code style issues.
Webstorm -> Preferences -> Inspections -> Javascript -> Code style issues.
Then just for good measure I also unchecked Use semicolon to terminate statements in WebStorm -> Preferences -> Code Style -> Javascript -> Other
And that's it! I did have to restart the WebStorm program in order to get rid of those pesky unterminated statement warnings. Have you changed any other settings in your WebStorm code style? Or maybe you have an opinion on the semicolon omission debate! Let me know in the comments. :)
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