Javascript : Test-Driven Learning

A project aimed to help the user master Javascript with a test-driven approach. Each unit contains an annotated tutorial on the code and the ability to run Unit Tests to verify the expected behavior.

Topics

• Arrays
• Bad Practices and Solutions
• Booleans
• Built-in Functions
• Closure
• Comparisons
• Conditionals
• Exceptions
• Falsey Values
• Function Expressions
• Function Expressions as Parameters
• Functions
• General Performance
• Hoisting
• Logical Assignment
• Loops
• Namespaces
• Numbers
• Object Prototype
• Objects
• Objects Functionality
• Prototypes
• Strings
• Switch Block
• Ternary Conditionals
• Truthy Values
• Variables

Tools

Arrays

  /* An array is a data structure with automatically indexed positions*/
  it('Arrays can be accessed by indices', function () {
    //The brackets indicate to the compiler to make an array and to fill it with
    //the comma-separated values between the brackets
    var arrayOfStrings = [ "StringZero" , "StringOne" , "StringTwo"];
    //We can access any location of the zero-based array
    expect(arrayOfStrings[1]).toBe("StringOne");
  });
  it('You can reference and change specific cells with indices', function () {
    var arrayOfStrings = [ "StringOne" , "StringOne" , "StringTwo"];
    arrayOfStrings[0] = "StringZero"; //You can change the value contained at any index
    expect(arrayOfStrings[0]).toBe("StringZero");
  });

Functions

/*Functions take some input, then execute a series of statements using the input, and outputs a result*/
it('functions help write reusable code', function () {
  expect(addNumbers(1, 2)).toBe(3);
  expect(addNumbers(2, 3)).toBe(5);
  expect(addNumbers(1 + 1, 2 + 1)).toBe(5);//Parameters can also be expressions, which the function will resolve before starting
  var numberOne = 2;
  var numberTwo = 3;
  expect(addNumbers(numberOne, numberTwo)).toBe(5);//Parameters can also be variables
});

// function keyword tells the compiler that you are defining a function
function addNumbers(numberOne, numberTwo) { //The function's name follows the 'function' keyword and should indicate the function's purpose
  //Parameters are passed in a set of parentheses before the first curly brace
  return numberOne + numberTwo;
  //The return keyword works as a terminating statement and exits the function returning the value in front of it
} //The statements that will be executed should be enclosed in curly braces.

Numbers

it('JavaScript uses binary floating point values to handle all of its decimal based operations', function () {
  expect(0.1 + 0.2).toBe(0.30000000000000004);
});
it('You can use the toFixed() method to select the amount of decimal places to display', function () {
  expect((0.1 + 0.2).toFixed(1)).toBe('0.3');
});
it('toFixed() method will round to the last indicated position', function () {
  //0.18 + 0.28 = 0.46
  expect((0.18 + 0.28).toFixed(1)).toBe('0.5');
});
it('parseFloat() turns strings with decimals into numbers', function () {
  expect(parseFloat((0.18 + 0.28).toFixed(1))).toBe(0.5);
});
it('parseInt() looks for the first available integer at the front of a string', function () {
  expect(parseInt("55")).toBe(55);
  expect(parseInt("55 is a great number")).toBe(55);
});
it('if parseInt() does not find an acceptable value at the beginning of a string, it will return a NaN', function () {
  expect(parseInt("A great number, 55")).toBeNaN();
});
it('parseInt() will trim off any decimals that may exist, without rounding', function () {
  expect(parseInt("5.78")).toBe(5);
});
it('parseInt() will accept octal,hexadecimal and decimal values potentially creating undesired results', function () {
  //"021" is read as an octal value(base 8) and converts it to decimal
  expect(parseInt("021")).toBe(17);//This is fixed on ECMAScript5
});
it('you can use a radix value to ensure correct parsing', function () {
  //parseInt will accept any radix value from 2-36 for selecting the Base for the result
  expect(parseInt("021", 10)).toBe(21);
});

Anonymous Closures

//When you create NAMESPACES, the program may still execute its private methods and variables
//It is good practice to use private methods to safely modify private data
//Anonymous Closures allow you to define public and private variables
it('Closures will allow you to make private variables and properties', function () {
  //You can achieve this by surrounding the entire set of properties and values in an immediately
  //invoked function expression
  //The local values and methods will be "closed" into the namespace
  var NAMESPACE = (function () {
    var privateArray = [1, 2, 3];
    var privateVariable = 9;
    //In order to make public properties, you can return an object
    return {
      //Since the function expression is invoked, this returned object will be handled immediately
      // to the NAMESPACE variable and become a namespace
      publicArray: function () {
        return [4, 5, 6];
      },
      publicVariable: 10 + privateVariable
    };
  })();//These parentheses indicate that the function expression should be immediately executed
  //Since privateArray and privateVariable are private, we expect them to be undefined
  expect(NAMESPACE.privateArray).toBeUndefined();
  expect(NAMESPACE.privateVariable).toBeUndefined();
  expect(NAMESPACE.publicArray()).toEqual([4, 5, 6]);
  expect(NAMESPACE.publicVariable).toBe(19);
});

Install

npm install
bower install

Run the Tests

grunt test

Questions ?

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me: Martin Chavez Aguilar

Contributors

• Martin Chavez Aguilar - Wrote the project

References

• Code School