Gain insights into modern JavaScript, focusing on impactful syntax and practical usage. Discover essential language features and 51 valuable tips to enhance your productivity as a developer.

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In this course, you’ll learn to write modern JavaScript from the ground up. But instead of going over every possible edge case, you’ll focus on the syntax that has a significant impact in your day-to-day work. As you review each construct, you’ll learn not just how to use it, but, more importantly, when to.

Your time is valuable, and this course, based on the Pragmatic Programmers’ book, Simplifying JavaScript, covers all the most important language features. And with 51 tips in total, you'll be able to jump into and out of this course easily. Before you know it, you'll be a productive and modern JavaScript developer.

Simplifying JavaScript: A Handy Guide for Software Engineers

Several years ago, the [New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/20/garden/cheap-its-chic-but-is-it-good.html) asked a master furniture builder to
review furniture from Ikea, Target, and other discount retailers.

Unsurprisingly, the craftsman was not impressed. He noticed problems with
the wood finish, screws that would tear out, and other issues. Astonishingly,
he noticed a piece of chipping paint and concluded that the piece was painted
before it was cut and that the blade cutting the wood was dull. A single piece
of chipped paint told him something about the construction process and the
tools used to create it.

A master of his or her craft can see things that others don’t. 

# What does this chapter include?

In this chapter, you’re going to learn to master functions, and in the process, you’ll see ideas in code that you’ve probably never considered before. Problems disappear
and new ideas pop up regularly.

Functions are so *common* that it’s easy to ignore them. But functions in
JavaScript are different. You may think you know how to use them, but you’ll
be surprised to find how much more they are capable of. This chapter isn’t
about the basics. It’s about how you can use functions in ways you may not
have explored before.


You’ll start off by learning how to write testable code. *Testable functions* are
more clean and easy to maintain, but learning to write them takes a little
effort. 

From there, you’ll return to *arrow functions* to see how you can take
all the ideas from parameters and apply them in single line functions. 


Next, you’ll dive into 
**higher-order** functions—*functions that return functions*—and
learn two techniques to help you lock in information to make clear, reusable
functions. 

Finally, you’ll return to *arrow functions* to see how you can use them to solve a sneaky context problem that will drive you crazy if you aren’t
expecting it.

*Functions, currying, higher-order functions*. These are the concepts that turn casual JavaScript writers into fanatics. They’re the concepts I love most about the language.

When you’re finished, you’ll see problems in new ways. You won’t be baffled
when this returns undefined. You’ll see a context problem that you can solve
with arrow functions. When a variable is inaccessible, you’ll see an opportunity
for closures. Masters of a craft see the world differently. When you’re finished mastering functions, you’ll see all problems in a new way.

You’ll learn about the topics this chapter contains, which include exploring different functions such as arrow and higher-order functions.

Introduction

Signal Intention with Variable Assignment

Manage Data Collections with Arrays

Maximize Code Clarity with Special Collections

Write Clear Conditionals

Simplify Loops

Clean Up Parameters and Return Statements

Build Flexible Functions

Keep Interfaces Clear with Classes

Access External Data

Gather Related Files with Component Architecture

Introduction