Console.log is a fundamental tool that software engineers rely on for debugging their code. However, one common frustration is that when you use console.log statements in your code, it doesn't always show the correct line number where the log statement is located. This can make it challenging to track down issues, especially in larger codebases. Thankfully, there is a simple and effective solution to this problem – using a proper wrapper for console.log that displays the correct line number.
By creating a wrapper function for console.log, you can ensure that the line numbers displayed in the console match the actual location of your log statements in the code. This can be incredibly helpful for quickly pinpointing the source of bugs and improving your debugging workflow.
To create a wrapper function for console.log with the correct line number, you can use the following code snippet:
function customLog() {
var stack = new Error().stack.split("n");
var line = stack[2].trim();
var index = line.indexOf("at ");
var cleanLine = line.slice(index + 2, line.length);
console.log.apply(console, [cleanLine, ...arguments]);
}
// Usage example
customLog("This is a custom log message!");In this code snippet, the customLog function uses the Error object to capture the stack trace at the point where the function is called. By parsing the stack trace, the function extracts the relevant line number information and formats it to display in the console alongside the log message.
When you use customLog instead of console.log in your code, you will see log messages displayed with the correct line number, making it much easier to track down issues and troubleshoot your code effectively.
It's important to note that while this wrapper function provides a simple and effective solution for displaying accurate line numbers with console.log, it may not work perfectly in all scenarios. The behavior of stack traces can vary depending on the browser or environment in which your code is running. However, in most cases, this approach will significantly improve the accuracy of line numbers displayed in the console.
By incorporating this proper wrapper for console.log with correct line numbers into your development workflow, you can streamline your debugging process, save time troubleshooting issues, and ultimately write more robust and reliable code.
Next time you find yourself scratching your head over a tricky bug in your code, give this wrapper function a try and see how it enhances your debugging experience. Happy coding!