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JavaScript JavaScript Array Iteration Methods Array Iteration forEach() `index` and `array` Parameters

Frank keane
Frank keane
8,074 Points
Posted by Frank keane
Frank keane
8,074 Points

Why the extra parentheses?

When you added index parameter you added a bracket, why?

same in MDN docs, suddenly the bracket appears

array1.forEach(element => console.log(element));

forEach((element) => { ... } ) forEach((element, index) => { ... } ) forEach((element, index, array) => { ... } )

Thanks!

2 Answers

Juan Luna Ramirez
Juan Luna Ramirez
9,038 Points
Juan Luna Ramirez
Juan Luna Ramirez
9,038 Points

do you mean the curly braces {} when you say brackets?

  • The curly braces are not a result of having the index parameter in your example. The braces are about implicit and explicit returns. Removing the braces allows you to return a value implicitly. More on explicit vs implicit return below.
  • As for the parentheses, they are needed if you have no parameters or more than one. They are optional if you only have one.

some example:

// - old school function
// - this function doesn't do anything yet
// - note that although there is no return statement, it will implicitely return
//   undefined
const formatName = function(firstName, lastName) {
  /* function body here */
}

console.log(formatName()) // will log undefined

// same as above but I'm explicitely returning undefined just to explain the
// difference between implicit and explicity return
const formatName = function(firstName, lastName) {
  return undefined
}

console.log(formatName()) // will also log undefined

// - ok, let's do some work inside the function. Simply return a formatted
//   version of a person's name.
// - We need to explicityly return a string of the formatted name
const formatName = function(firstName, lastName) {
  return `${lastName}, ${firstName}`
}

console.log(formatName('Frank', 'Keane')) // logs "Keane, Frank"

// - now let's do the exact same thing but with an arrow function
// - note that we are still using an explicity return statement
const formatName = (firstName, lastName) => {
  return `${lastName}, ${firstName}`
}

console.log(formatName('Frank', 'Keane')) // also logs "Keane, Frank"

//  - since this is simple function that can be written in one line, we can take
//    advantage of arrow function implicit return by removing the curly braces
//    that open and close the body of the function.
// - You would need to keep the curly braces if you needed to more things within
//   the body of the function.
const formatName = (firstName, lastName) => `${lastName}, ${firstName}`

console.log(formatName('Frank', 'Keane')) // also logs "Keane, Frank"

// - now a function example with one parameter
// - having the parentheses is valid but optional
// - let's use an implicit return here as well
const sayHello = (name) => `hello ${name}!`

console.log(sayHello('Frank')) // logs "hello Frank!"

// - this is also valid since we only have one parameter
const sayHello = name => `hello ${name}!`

console.log(sayHello('Frank')) // also logs "hello Frank!"

// now a function example with no parameters
// let's use an explicit return for fun
// must have the parentheses
const sayHi = () => {
  return 'hi'
}
Frank keane
Frank keane
8,074 Points
Frank keane
Frank keane
8,074 Points

Thanks for your detailed answer Juan, only seeing it now, thought I had emails set. I get it now, thanks!