6 ms·

Yes, it is called static analysis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_program_analysis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_program_analysis. It exists for Java

• reverius42 12y ago
  I don't see how static analysis helps the switch-case on strings. It might, if JS had a more expressive (static) type system. An enum type, perhaps?
  • gnud 12y ago
    I usually do something like var Constants = { valueA: function valueA() {}, valueB: function valueB() {} };
    • Mister_Snuggles 12y ago
      Why do you use empty functions instead of a number or a string?
      • madeofpalk 12y ago
        My guess is than a function will always be a unique object, rather than if it was a number or string, there's a chance you use the same value twice.
        • gingerrr 12y ago
          an object literal would provide the same guarantee but without the overhead of function prototype methods, wonder if there's any other reason?
          • drifkin 12y ago
            Maybe they're using functions so the values can have names? Perhaps easier to debug.
    • anewhnaccount 12y ago
      In ES6 you can use Symbol.
  • glibgil 12y ago
    If you have static analysis then it makes sense to use types instead of strings. If you don't have static analysis then there isn't much motivation which is why you see strings everywhere in unanalyzed JavaScript.
• duaneb 12y ago
  Neither of those implement a type where you can enumerate the values exhaustively.
• mlvljr 12y ago
  Bad fanboy! BAD!