Chapter 1: The Journey to Faster Coding

Recently, I received a question on Quora asking how one can code more swiftly. The answer might surprise you: there’s no magical solution. The truth is that the more you practice coding, the more proficient and faster you’ll become.

When you're learning to code, the key is straightforward—just keep coding. Think back to when you first learned to text on your phone or type on a laptop. Initially, it took time as you searched for the correct keys. If you’re older, you might remember the days of pressing a single button multiple times just to type the letter "Z."

Now, you can likely text and type without glancing at the keyboard. Your brain and fingers have developed a rhythm that allows you to compose messages, emails, or even blog posts effortlessly.

For Loop Simplification

Instead of writing your for loop in this manner:

for (var i = 0; i < arr.length; ++i){

console.log(arr[i]);

}

You can simplify it to:

for (var i = 0; i < arr.length; ++i) console.log(arr[i]);

By utilizing simpler logic, you can omit the curly braces and keep the code on one line after the loop’s closing parenthesis.

Utilizing Array.map()

When iterating through arrays, consider using map instead of a traditional for loop. Not only can map be more efficient, but you can also further condense it:

Instead of this:

var newArr = oldArr.map((x) => {

return x.property;

});

You can write it as:

var newArr = oldArr.map(x => x.property);

Removing the curly braces, the new line, and even the return keyword allows you to keep the logic concise.

Streamlining If/Else Statements

Conditional validation is a common task in coding. Instead of writing:

var y;

if (x >= 0){

y = x;

} else {

y = x * -1;

}

You can use a ternary operator to condense it:

var y = x >= 0 ? x : x * -1;

This reduces the entire if/else structure to a single line.

Nesting Else If Statements

You can also apply the same idea to else if statements. Rather than writing:

var x;

if (y === 1){

x = 'peach';

} else if (y === 2){

x = 'banana';

} else if (y === 3){

x = 'pear';

} else {

x = 'apple';

}

You can condense it to:

var x = y === 1 ? 'peach' :

y === 2 ? 'banana' :

y === 3 ? 'pear' : 'apple';

This nesting reduces lines of code but be cautious; overly complex syntax can be harder to read.

Handling Undefined Values

When dealing with undefined values, you can simplify your code. Instead of writing:

var x = "test";

if (y) {

x = y;

}

You can use:

var x = y || "test";

This checks if y is defined and assigns it if so; otherwise, it defaults to "test."

Optional Chaining for Safe Property Access

To check for null or undefined values succinctly, use optional chaining. Instead of writing:

const dogName = adventurer.dog ? adventurer.dog.name : undefined;

console.log(dogName);

You can simplify it to:

const dogName = adventurer.dog?.name;

console.log(dogName);

Nullish Coalescing for Value Assignment

To further streamline your code, consider nullish coalescing. Instead of writing:

result = (a !== null && a !== undefined) ? a : b;

You can write:

result = a ?? b;

This approach checks for both null and undefined values in one go.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering condensed syntax can significantly enhance your coding speed. However, the primary advantage lies in consistent practice. The more you code, the more automatic the process becomes. By pairing frequent coding with refined syntax, you’ll find yourself coding faster and more effectively than ever.

What other methods do you use to streamline your JavaScript syntax? Let me know in the comments!

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