Syntax

1. // comment text 
2. /* multiple line comment text */

Examples

// This is a single-line comment.


/* This is a multiple-line comment. It can be of any length, and 
you can put whatever you want here. */

The continue statement terminates execution of the block of statements in a while or for loop, and continues execution of the loop with the next iteration. In contrast to the break statement, it does not terminate the execution of the loop entirely: instead,

• In a while loop it jumps back to the condition.
• In a for loop it jumps to the update expression.

Syntax

continue

Examples

The following example shows a while loop that has a continue statement that executes when the value of i is 3. Thus, n takes on the values 1, 3, 7, and 12.

i = 0; 
n = 0; 
while (i < 5) { 
    i++; 
    if (i == 3) 
        continue;  
    n += i;
} 

A for loop consists of three optional expressions, enclosed in parentheses and separated by semicolons, followed by a block of statements executed in the loop. The parts of the for statement are:

• The initial expression, generally used to initialize a counter variable. This statement may optionally declare new variables with the var keyword. This expression is optional.
• The condition that is is evaluated on each pass through the loop. If this condition is true, the statements in the succeeding block are performed. This conditional test is optional. If omitted, then the condition always evaluates to true.
• An update expression generally used to update or increment the counter variable. This expression is optional.
• A block of statements that are executed as long as the condition is true. This can be a single statement or multiple statements. Although not required, it is good practice to indent these statements four spaces from the beginning of the for statement.

Syntax

for ([initial expression]; [condition]; [update expression]) {
    statements
}
initial expression = statement | variable declartion

Examples

This simple for statement starts by declaring the variable i and initializing it to zero. It checks that i is less than nine, and performs the two succeeding statements, and increments i by one after each pass through the loop.

for (var i = 0; i < 9; i++) { 
    n += i;

    myfunc(n);
}

The for statement iterates variable var over all the properties of object obj. For each distinct property, it executes the statements in statements.

Syntax

for (var in obj) { 
    statements }

Examples

The following function takes as its argument an object and the object's name. It then iterates over all the object's properties and returns a string that lists the property names and their values.

function dump_props(obj, obj_name) { 
    var result = "", i = "";
    for (i in obj)
        result += obj_name + "." + i + " = " + obj[i] + "\n";
    return result;
} 

The function statement declares a JavaScript function name with the specified parameters param. To return a value, the function must have a return statement that specifies the value to return. You cannot nest a function statement in another statement or in itself.

All parameters are passed to functions, by value. In other words, the value is passed to the function, but if the function changes the value of the parameter, this change is not reflected globally or in the calling function.

Syntax

function name([param] [, param] [..., param]) {
    statements }

Examples

//This function returns the total dollar amount of sales, when 
//given the number of units sold of products a, b, and c.
function calc_sales(units_a, units_b, units_c) {
    return units_a*79 + units_b*129 + units_c*699
}

The if...else statement is a conditional statement that executes the statements in statements if condition is true. In the optional else clause, it executes the statements in else statements if condition is false. These may be any JavaScript statements, including further nested if statements.

Syntax

if (condition) {
    statements
} [else {
    else statements
}]

Examples

if ( cipher_char == from_char ) {
    result = result + to_char; 
    x++
} else  
    result = result + clear_char; 
 

The return statement specifies the value to be returned by a function.

Syntax

return expression;

Examples

The following simple function returns the square of its argument, x, where x is an number.

function square( x ) { 
    return x * x; 
} 

The var statement declares a variable varname, optionally initializing it to have value. The variable name varname can be any legal identifier, and value can be any legal expression. The scope of a variable is the current function or, for variables declared outside a function, the current application.

Using var outside a function is optional; you can declare a variable by simply assigning it a value. However, it is good style to use var, and it is neccessary in functions if there is a global variable of the same name. So, in general, it is a good idea to always use var, but you should definitely use it when declaring a local variable in a function, to ensure that any global variable of the same name does not override it.

Syntax

var varname [= value] [..., varname [= value] ]

Examples

var num_hits = 0, cust_no = 0

The while statement is a loop that evaluates the expression condition,and if it is true, executes statements. It then repeats this process, as long as condition is true. When condition evaluates to false, execution continues with the next statement following the statements.

Although not required, it is good practice to indent the statements a while loop four spaces from the beginning of the for statement.

Syntax

while (condition) {
    statements
}

Examples

The following simple while loop iterates as long as n is less than three. Each iteration, it increments n and adds it to x. Therefore, x and n take on the following values

• After first pass: x = 1 and n = 1
• After second pass: x = 2 and n = 3
• After third pass: x = 3 and n = 6

After completing the third pass, the condition n < 3 is no longer true, so the loop terminates.

n = 0; 
x = 0; 
while( n < 3 ) { 
    n ++; x += n; 
} 

The with statement establishes object as the default object for the statements. Any property references without an object are then assumed to be for object. Note that the parentheses are required around object.

Syntax

with (object){ 
     statements 
}

Examples

with (Math) { 
    a = PI * r*r
    x = r * cos(theta)
    y = r * sin(theta) 
}