When working with ES6, the ability to write clean and concise code is one of the many perks that developers appreciate. However, there are certain features that, although available, may not always be the best choice. One such feature is "use strict". Let's dive into why it's not recommended to use "use strict" in ES6.
What exactly is "use strict" in JavaScript? It's a directive introduced in ECMAScript 5 that allows developers to opt into a stricter mode of the language. This mode helps catch common coding errors and restricts some behaviors to improve code quality.
While using "strict mode" in ES5 brings benefits, it's not as crucial in ES6 due to the enhancements in the language itself. ES6 already provides features that address many of the issues "strict mode" aims to solve. This redundancy can lead to unnecessary code bloat and add confusion rather than clarity to your codebase.
An important point to consider is that enabling "strict mode" applies it to the entire script or function. This global application can sometimes have unintended consequences. ES6 modules are already in strict mode by default, so adding "use strict" might not bring any additional value and could potentially break the code if not handled appropriately.
In ES6, features like block-scoped variables using "let" and "const", default parameters, arrow functions, template literals, and classes provide a more modern and robust way to write JavaScript code. These features help in writing cleaner, more maintainable code without the need for the explicit "use strict" directive.
Another factor to keep in mind is that older browsers might not fully support ES6 features, so transpilation using tools like Babel is often used to ensure compatibility across different environments. When transpiling ES6 code, the generated ES5 code will typically already include strict mode where necessary, making the manual addition of "use strict" redundant.
In the context of ES6, it's generally recommended to rely on the advancements and conventions of the language itself rather than resorting to outdated practices like using "use strict". By embracing the modern features of ES6 and following best coding practices, you can effectively write clean, efficient code without the need for additional directives.
In conclusion, while "use strict" served a valuable purpose in earlier versions of JavaScript, its usage in ES6 is often unnecessary and can even be counterproductive. By leveraging the native capabilities of ES6 and utilizing modern coding practices, you can create better code without the need for explicit strict mode directives. So, the next time you're writing ES6 code, remember that it's best to let the language features do the heavy lifting for you, and leave "use strict" behind.