JavaScript || Operator Pitfall: Use Nullish Coalescing (??) Instead

🛑 Stop using || for default values in JavaScript! Many developers use the Logical OR (||) operator to set defaults. But there is a hidden trap that leads to "ghost bugs" in your application. The Problem: The OR operator (||) checks for falsy values. In JavaScript, 0, "", and false are all falsy. If your user intentionally chooses 0 (like a muted volume) or an empty string, the || operator will ignore it and force your default value anyway. The Solution: Nullish Coalescing (??) ✅ The ?? operator is smarter. It only falls back to the default if the value is null or undefined. It respects 0, "", and false as valid, intentional data. 💡 Why this makes you a better developer: Predictability: Your code behaves exactly how the user expects. Data Integrity: You stop accidentally overwriting valid "zero" or "empty" states. Clean Code: No more extra if statements just to check if a value is 0. Unless you explicitly want to skip empty strings and zeros, reach for ?? instead of ||. #JavaScript #WebDevelopment #CodingTips #CleanCode #Frontend #SoftwareEngineering #Programming

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