JavaScript’s Lexical Structure

A programming language’s lexical structure specifies set of some basic rules about how a code should be written in it. Rules like what variable names looks like, the delimiter characters for comments, and how one program statement is separated from the next. It is the lowest-level syntax of a language.

Character Set

Unicode character set is used in JavaScript codes.Almost every writing system is supported by Unicode.

Case Sensitive

JS is a case-sensitive language.While, while, WHILEare all three different words in JavaScript with different meanings and functionality. It means that language keywords, variables, function names, and other identifiers must always be typed with a consistent capitalization of letters.

Whitespaces and Line Breaks

JavaScript is ignorant to spaces that appear between tokens in codes. Line breaks are also not considered by JS. This lets you freely use any number of spaces and newlines. It can help in indentation and formatting of codes which makes them readable and easy to understand.

Comments

Two types of comments are supported by JS.

1)      Single Line. E.g., // this is a single line comment in JS

2)      Multiple Line. E.g.,

/* this is a

multiple line

comment           */

Identifiers and Reserved Words

An identifier is simply a name. A JavaScript identifier must begin with a letter, an underscore (_), or a dollar sign ($). Digits are not allowed as the first character.

Here are some legal identifiers: e, my_name, z3, _flag, $yes.

The identifiers reserved by the language for its use are known as “reserved words”. Below is the table of all the reserved words.

abstract arguments boolean break byte
case catch char class const
continue debugger default delete do
double else enum eval export
extends false final finally float
for function goto if implements
import in instanceof int interface
let long native new null
package private protected public return
short static super switch synchronized
this throw throws transient true
try typeof var void volatile
while with yield  

Following are the name of JS built-in objects, properties, and methods:

Array Date eval function hasOwnProperty
Infinity isFinite isNaN isPrototypeOf length
Math NaN name Number Object
prototype String toString undefined valueOf

Some Java objects and properties are also used in JavaScript.

getClass java JavaArray javaClass JavaObject JavaPackage

JavaScript can also be used in many other applications. In HTML you must avoid using the name of HTML and Windows objects and properties

alert all anchor anchors area
assign blur button checkbox clearInterval
clearTimeout clientInformation close closed confirm
constructor crypto decodeURI decodeURIComponent defaultStatus
document element elements embed embeds
encodeURI encodeURIComponent escape event fileUpload
focus form forms frame innerHeight
innerWidth layer layers link location
mimeTypes navigate navigator frames frameRate
hidden history image images offscreenBuffering
open opener option outerHeight outerWidth
packages pageXOffset pageYOffset parent parseFloat
parseInt password pkcs11 plugin prompt
propertyIsEnum radio reset screenX screenY
scroll secure select self setInterval
setTimeout status submit taint text
textarea top unescape untaint window

In addition you should avoid using the name of all HTML event handlers.

onblur onclick onerror onfocus
onkeydown onkeypress onkeyup onmouseover
onload onmouseup onmousedown onsubmit

Optional Semicolon

Semicolons are used in JavaScript to separate statements from each other. But you can also omit the semicolon between two statements if those statements are written on separate lines.

Right :x = 7                     AND      x = 7;                AND x = 3; z = 7;

z = 3;                                   z = 3;

Since the two statements appear on separate line, line break is sufficient to tell these are two different statements. Semicolon before the line break is optional.

Wrong:x=7 z = 3;

Here, both statements are on same line but there is no way to differentiate between them. Therefore, a semicolon after first statement is required here.

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