Documenting your code is crucial for maintaining its clarity and ensuring that others can easily understand and work with it. One important aspect of documentation in JavaScript is utilizing JSDoc comments to effectively describe your functions and their return values. In this article, we will focus on how to document a function returned by another function using JSDoc.
When documenting a function that returns another function, you want to provide clear and concise information to help other developers understand how to interact with your code. To begin, you should use JSDoc comments above the outer function to describe its purpose, parameters, and the return value.
For example, let's say we have a function called "createMultiplier" that takes a number as an argument and returns a new function that multiplies other numbers by the original input. Here's how you can document it using JSDoc:
/**
* Creates a function that multiplies other numbers by the provided multiplier.
* @param {number} multiplier - The number to multiply by.
* @returns {function}
*/
function createMultiplier(multiplier) {
return function(num) {
return num * multiplier;
}
}In this JSDoc comment, we start by providing a brief description of the outer function, "createMultiplier." We specify that it takes a parameter called "multiplier" of type number. Additionally, we indicate that this function returns another function using `@returns {function}`.
Next, it's essential to document the inner function that is returned by the outer function. You should describe its purpose, parameters, and the return value it produces. Here's an example of how you can document the inner function:
/**
* Returns the product of the input number and the multiplier.
* @param {number} num - The number to be multiplied.
* @returns {number} The product of num and the multiplier.
*/By including this JSDoc comment above the inner function, you provide valuable information about its functionality. Be sure to specify the parameters it accepts, such as "num," and describe the value it returns, which is the product of "num" and the original "multiplier."
Remember, by documenting your code with JSDoc comments, you make it easier for yourself and others to understand and utilize your functions correctly. Clear and concise documentation enhances collaboration among developers and helps maintain code quality.
In conclusion, documenting a function returned by another function using JSDoc is a valuable practice in JavaScript development. By following these guidelines and utilizing clear JSDoc comments, you can enhance the readability and usability of your codebase. Happy coding!