Proposal: Skip arguments passed to function

💡 Ideas
1

I ran into a case when using a community built SDK around the Investec API where I need to skip a function argument as the skipped argument was not necessary so I set it to undefined in order to the get to the next argument that the function needs.

For example:

function helloWorld(a, b , c) {
  // does something based on the arguments
}

helloWorld('hello', undefined, 'world')

The above got me thinking about how array destructuring works where I can do this:

const [a,,b] = [1,2,3]

Where I can skip the 1-index element in the array so why can't I do that when passing function arguments like this:

function helloWorld(a, b, c) {

}

helloWorld('hello',, 'world')

The skipped argument would be automatically set to undefined and the syntax falls in line with what is possible with array destructuring.

1 Like
2

An optional argument shouldn't precede a required one - the best solution here is probably an options object if there's more than one optional arg at a time.

3 Likes
3

Hey @shailen-naidoo, out of curiosity do you have a link to the Investec API in question? (I work for Investec and am curious!)

4

Hey @johnnyreilly it is the library built by Frikkie GitHub - FrikkieSnyman/investec-api: A Node module to interact with Investec's Open API

1 Like
5

It is not about solutions, it is a proposal. Nobody would talk about this if it didn't work at destructuring.

1 Like
6

@oleedd I agree, proposals are up in the air and not aimed to be a solution. Array destructuring can be solved in other ways but the features was added due to consensus by the community, I still believe my proposal to be valid in the context of modern JS.

7

I replied to ljharb, which took it as a problem which needs an existing solution, not as a proposal. I had to quote...
I wanted to propose this at the time you did. But first I opened a question: Why no ability to skip arguments at calling functions?
If you proposed not after reading my question, then it is some wonderful coincidence (even the same day).

1 Like
8

@oleedd Appreciate your input on this! :)

1 Like
9

So you proposed after reading my question or not? I was sure that yes then. Because such coincidences seem impossible. Just interesting.

10

I did not know about your post at all when I posted mine. :)

11

Wow. Then this improbable coincidence is a sign of higher powers.
So, esteemed delegates, lets discuss this proposal. It is not potentially regrettable unlike array methods.