domains / software-engineering / modern-javascript-patterns / modern-javascript-patterns

modern-javascript-patterns

Skill card

combined

The three copies share the same high-level scope and use-case list, but they diverge in how they instruct the agent. The first two are thin wrappers that defer to a resources/implementation-playbook.md file, while the third copy inlines a detailed ES6+ reference (arrow functions, destructuring, spread/rest, template literals, object literals, and the start of async patterns). Crowning one copy would either hide the inline reference or hide the resource-based workflow, so the catalog should combine them.

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Combined skill

---
name: modern-javascript-patterns
description: Master ES6+ features including async/await, destructuring, spread operators, arrow functions, promises, modules, iterators, generators, and functional programming patterns for writing clean, efficient JavaScript code. Use when refactoring legacy code, implementing modern patterns, or optimizing JavaScript applications.
---

# Modern JavaScript Patterns

Comprehensive guide for mastering modern JavaScript (ES6+) features, functional programming patterns, and best practices for writing clean, maintainable, and performant code.

## Use this skill when

- Refactoring legacy JavaScript to modern syntax
- Implementing functional programming patterns
- Optimizing JavaScript performance
- Writing maintainable and readable code
- Working with asynchronous operations
- Building modern web applications
- Migrating from callbacks to Promises/async-await
- Implementing data transformation pipelines

## Do not use this skill when

- The task is unrelated to modern javascript patterns
- You need a different domain or tool outside this scope

## Instructions

- Clarify goals, constraints, and required inputs.
- Apply relevant best practices and validate outcomes.
- Provide actionable steps and verification.
- If detailed examples are required, open `resources/implementation-playbook.md`.
- When the playbook is unavailable, use the inline ES6+ reference below.

## ES6+ Core Features

### 1. Arrow Functions

**Syntax and Use Cases:**

```javascript
// Traditional function
function add(a, b) {
  return a + b;
}

// Arrow function
const add = (a, b) => a + b;

// Single parameter (parentheses optional)
const double = (x) => x * 2;

// No parameters
const getRandom = () => Math.random();

// Multiple statements (need curly braces)
const processUser = (user) => {
  const normalized = user.name.toLowerCase();
  return { ...user, name: normalized };
};

// Returning objects (wrap in parentheses)
const createUser = (name, age) => ({ name, age });
```

**Lexical 'this' Binding:**

```javascript
class Counter {
  constructor() {
    this.count = 0;
  }

  // Arrow function preserves 'this' context
  increment = () => {
    this.count++;
  };

  // Traditional function loses 'this' in callbacks
  incrementTraditional() {
    setTimeout(function () {
      this.count++; // 'this' is undefined
    }, 1000);
  }

  // Arrow function maintains 'this'
  incrementArrow() {
    setTimeout(() => {
      this.count++; // 'this' refers to Counter instance
    }, 1000);
  }
}
```

### 2. Destructuring

**Object Destructuring:**

```javascript
const user = {
  id: 1,
  name: "John Doe",
  email: "john@example.com",
  address: {
    city: "New York",
    country: "USA",
  },
};

// Basic destructuring
const { name, email } = user;

// Rename variables
const { name: userName, email: userEmail } = user;

// Default values
const { age = 25 } = user;

// Nested destructuring
const {
  address: { city, country },
} = user;

// Rest operator
const { id, ...userWithoutId } = user;

// Function parameters
function greet({ name, age = 18 }) {
  console.log(`Hello ${name}, you are ${age}`);
}
greet(user);
```

**Array Destructuring:**

```javascript
const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

// Basic destructuring
const [first, second] = numbers;

// Skip elements
const [, , third] = numbers;

// Rest operator
const [head, ...tail] = numbers;

// Swapping variables
let a = 1,
  b = 2;
[a, b] = [b, a];

// Function return values
function getCoordinates() {
  return [10, 20];
}
const [x, y] = getCoordinates();

// Default values
const [one, two, three = 0] = [1, 2];
```

### 3. Spread and Rest Operators

**Spread Operator:**

```javascript
// Array spreading
const arr1 = [1, 2, 3];
const arr2 = [4, 5, 6];
const combined = [...arr1, ...arr2];

// Object spreading
const defaults = { theme: "dark", lang: "en" };
const userPrefs = { theme: "light" };
const settings = { ...defaults, ...userPrefs };

// Function arguments
const numbers = [1, 2, 3];
Math.max(...numbers);

// Copying arrays/objects (shallow copy)
const copy = [...arr1];
const objCopy = { ...user };

// Adding items immutably
const newArr = [...arr1, 4, 5];
const newObj = { ...user, age: 30 };
```

**Rest Parameters:**

```javascript
// Collect function arguments
function sum(...numbers) {
  return numbers.reduce((total, num) => total + num, 0);
}
sum(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);

// With regular parameters
function greet(greeting, ...names) {
  return `${greeting} ${names.join(", ")}`;
}
greet("Hello", "John", "Jane", "Bob");

// Object rest
const { id, ...userData } = user;

// Array rest
const [first, ...rest] = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
```

### 4. Template Literals

```javascript
// Basic usage
const name = "John";
const greeting = `Hello, ${name}!`;

// Multi-line strings
const html = `
  <div>
    <h1>${title}</h1>
    <p>${content}</p>
  </div>
`;

// Expression evaluation
const price = 19.99;
const total = `Total: $${(price * 1.2).toFixed(2)}`;

// Tagged template literals
function highlight(strings, ...values) {
  return strings.reduce((result, str, i) => {
    const value = values[i] || "";
    return result + str + `<mark>${value}</mark>`;
  }, "");
}

const name = "John";
const age = 30;
const html = highlight`Name: ${name}, Age: ${age}`;
// Output: "Name: <mark>John</mark>, Age: <mark>30</mark>"
```

### 5. Enhanced Object Literals

```javascript
const name = "John";
const age = 30;

// Shorthand property names
const user = { name, age };

// Shorthand method names
const calculator = {
  add(a, b) {
    return a + b;
  },
  subtract(a, b) {
    return a - b;
  },
};

// Computed property names
const field = "email";
const user = {
  name: "John",
  [field]: "john@example.com",
  [`get${field.charAt(0).toUpperCase()}${field.slice(1)}`]() {
    return this[field];
  },
};

// Dynamic property creation
const createUser = (name, ...props) => {
  return props.reduce(
    (user, [key, value]) => ({
      ...user,
      [key]: value,
    }),
    { name },
  );
};

const user = createUser("John", ["age", 30], ["email", "john@example.com"]);
```

## Asynchronous Patterns

### 1. Promises

**Creating and Using Promises:**

```javascript
// Creating a promise
const fetchUser = (id) => {
  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    setTimeout(() => {
      if (id > 0) {
        resolve({ id, name: "John" });
      } else {
        reject(new Error("Invalid ID"));
      }
    }, 1000);
  });
};
```

## Resources

- `resources/implementation-playbook.md` for detailed patterns and examples.

## Limitations

- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.