How is the 'use strict' statement interpreted in Node.js?

Question

I have started to explore the Node.js and wrote many demo web application, to understand the flow of Node.js, Express.js, jade, etc..

But one thing I came across recently, is the statement "use strict" as the first line inside every function and every .js file.

How exactly is it is interpreted by Node.js?

Answer 1

"use strict";

Basically it enables the strict mode.

Strict Mode is a feature that allows you to place a program, or a function, in a "strict" operating context. In strict operating context, the method form binds this to the objects as before. The function form binds this to undefined, not the global set objects.

As per your comments you are telling some differences will be there. But it's your assumption. The Node.js code is nothing but your JavaScript code. All Node.js code are interpreted by the V8 JavaScript engine. The V8 JavaScript Engine is an open source JavaScript engine developed by Google for Chrome web browser.

So, there will be no major difference how "use strict"; is interpreted by the Chrome browser and Node.js.

Please read what is strict mode in JavaScript.

For more information:

1. Strict mode
2. ECMAScript 5 Strict mode support in browsers
3. Strict mode is coming to town
4. Compatibility table for strict mode
5. Stack Overflow questions: what does 'use strict' do in JavaScript & what is the reasoning behind it

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ECMAScript 6:

ECMAScript 6 Code & strict mode. Following is brief from the specification:

10.2.1 Strict Mode Code

An ECMAScript Script syntactic unit may be processed using either unrestricted or strict mode syntax and semantics. Code is interpreted as strict mode code in the following situations:

• Global code is strict mode code if it begins with a Directive Prologue that contains a Use Strict Directive (see 14.1.1).
• Module code is always strict mode code.
• All parts of a ClassDeclaration or a ClassExpression are strict mode code.
• Eval code is strict mode code if it begins with a Directive Prologue that contains a Use Strict Directive or if the call to eval is a direct eval (see 12.3.4.1) that is contained in strict mode code.
• Function code is strict mode code if the associated FunctionDeclaration, FunctionExpression, GeneratorDeclaration, GeneratorExpression, MethodDefinition, or ArrowFunction is contained in strict mode code or if the code that produces the value of the function’s [[ECMAScriptCode]] internal slot begins with a Directive Prologue that contains a Use Strict Directive.
• Function code that is supplied as the arguments to the built-in Function and Generator constructors is strict mode code if the last argument is a String that when processed is a FunctionBody that begins with a Directive Prologue that contains a Use Strict Directive.

Additionally if you are lost on what features are supported by your current version of Node.js, this node.green can help you (leverages from the same data as kangax).