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The Modern Mode, - Use Strict

"use strict" is a directive in JavaScript that enables strict mode, which enforces modern coding practices and prevents certain errors. It must be placed at the top of a script or function to be effective, and there is no way to revert back to non-strict mode once enabled. While it is recommended to use "use strict" in scripts, modern JavaScript features like classes and modules automatically enable strict mode, making the directive unnecessary in those contexts.

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14 views3 pages

The Modern Mode, - Use Strict

"use strict" is a directive in JavaScript that enables strict mode, which enforces modern coding practices and prevents certain errors. It must be placed at the top of a script or function to be effective, and there is no way to revert back to non-strict mode once enabled. While it is recommended to use "use strict" in scripts, modern JavaScript features like classes and modules automatically enable strict mode, making the directive unnecessary in those contexts.

Uploaded by

rakibul8998r11
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3/9/25, 11:56 AM The modern mode, "use strict"

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 → The JavaScript language → JavaScript Fundamentals

 May 19, 2020


The modern mode, "use strict"
For a long time, JavaScript evolved without compatibility issues. New features were added to the language while
old functionality didn’t change.

That had the benefit of never breaking existing code. But the downside was that any mistake or an imperfect
decision made by JavaScript’s creators got stuck in the language forever.

This was the case until 2009 when ECMAScript 5 (ES5) appeared. It added new features to the language and
modified some of the existing ones. To keep the old code working, most such modifications are off by default.
You need to explicitly enable them with a special directive: "use strict" .

“use strict”
The directive looks like a string: "use strict" or 'use strict' . When it is located at the top of a script,
the whole script works the “modern” way.

For example:

1 "use strict";
2
3 // this code works the modern way
4 ...

Quite soon we’re going to learn functions (a way to group commands), so let’s note in advance that "use
strict" can be put at the beginning of a function. Doing that enables strict mode in that function only. But
usually people use it for the whole script.

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3/9/25, 11:56 AM The modern mode, "use strict"

 Ensure that “use strict” is at the top


Please make sure that "use strict" is at the top of your scripts, otherwise strict mode may not be
enabled.

Strict mode isn’t enabled here:

1 alert("some code");
2 // "use strict" below is ignored--it must be at the top
3
4 "use strict";
5
6 // strict mode is not activated

Only comments may appear above "use strict" .

 There’s no way to cancel use strict


There is no directive like "no use strict" that reverts the engine to old behavior.

Once we enter strict mode, there’s no going back.

Browser console
When you use a developer console to run code, please note that it doesn’t use strict by default.

Sometimes, when use strict makes a difference, you’ll get incorrect results.

So, how to actually use strict in the console?

First, you can try to press Shift+Enter to input multiple lines, and put use strict on top, like this:

1 'use strict'; <Shift+Enter for a newline>


2 // ...your code
3 <Enter to run>

It works in most browsers, namely Firefox and Chrome.

If it doesn’t, e.g. in an old browser, there’s an ugly, but reliable way to ensure use strict . Put it inside this
kind of wrapper:

1 (function() {
2 'use strict';
3
4 // ...your code here...
5 })()

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3/9/25, 11:56 AM The modern mode, "use strict"

Should we “use strict”?


The question may sound obvious, but it’s not so.

One could recommend to start scripts with "use strict" … But you know what’s cool?

Modern JavaScript supports “classes” and “modules” – advanced language structures (we’ll surely get to them),
that enable use strict automatically. So we don’t need to add the "use strict" directive, if we use
them.

So, for now "use strict"; is a welcome guest at the top of your scripts. Later, when your code is all
in classes and modules, you may omit it.

As of now, we’ve got to know about use strict in general.

In the next chapters, as we learn language features, we’ll see the differences between the strict and old modes.
Luckily, there aren’t many and they actually make our lives better.

All examples in this tutorial assume strict mode unless (very rarely) specified otherwise.

 Previous lesson Next lesson



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