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With the release of Node.js v6 LTS "Boron", there were a suite of updates to Node.js core APIs and its dependencies. The update to V8, the JavaScript engine from Chromium that is at the root of Node.js, is important - it brings almost complete support for something that's near and dear to a lot of Node.js and JavaScript developer's hearts: ES6.

With this article, we'll take a look at six of the best new ES6 features that are in the Node.js v6 LTS release.

Setting defaults for function parameters

The new default parameters feature for functions enable a default value to be set for function arguments when the function is initially defined.

The addition of default function parameters to ES6, and subsequently Node core, doesn’t necessarily add new functionality that couldn’t have been achieved previously. That said, they are first-class support for configurable argument values, which enables us build more consistent and less opinionated code, across the entire ecosystem.

To get default values for function parameters previously, you would have had to do something along the lines of this:

function toThePower(val, exponent) {
  exponent = exponent || 2

  // ...

}

Now, with the new default parameters feature, the parameters can be defined, and defaulted, like this:

function toThePower(value, exponent = 2) {
  // The rest of your code
}

toThePower(1, undefined) // exponent defaults to 2

Extracting Data from Arrays and Objects with Destructuring

Destructuring of arrays and objects gives developers the ability to extract values from either, and then expose them as distinct variables. Destructuring has a wide variety of uses - including cases like where specific values are wanted from a larger set. It provides a method to get that value in a concise way from a built-in feature in the language itself.

The destructuring object syntax is with curly braces ({}), and the destructuring array syntax is with square brackets ([])

• Array case: const [one, two] = [1, 2]
• Object case: const {a, b} = { a: ‘a’, b: ‘b’ }
• Defaults: const {x = ‘x’, y} = { y: ‘y’ }

Destructuring Example 1:

// fake tuples
function returnsTuple() {
  return [name, data]
}

const [name, data] = returnsTuple()

Destructuring Example 2:

const [first, second, ...theRest] = my_array_of_10_elements

Note: the spread operator (...) will be explained later

Destructuring Example 3:

The way to grab object values in ES5:

var person = {
  name: "Gumbo", 
  title: "Developer", 
  data: "yes" 
}


var name = person.name
var title = person.title
var data = person.data

The way to grab object values in ES6, with Destructuring:

const { name, title, data } = person

Checking Array Values with Array#includes()

The built-in .includes() method for Arrays (protip: the # means it's a prototype method, and can be called on arrays) is a simple way to check a value against an array to see if it is included somewhere inside of that array. The method will return true if the array does indeed contain the specified value. Thankfully, you can now say goodbye to array.indexOf(item) === -1 forever.

[1, 2].includes(1) // returns true

[1, 2].includes(4) // returns false

Allowing Extra Arguments in Functions

Rest parameters give functions the ability to collect additional arguments outside of the parameters that it has predefined. The contents of these arguments are then collected into an array. This allows a function to capture and parse additional arguments to enable some extended functionality, with far more options for optimization than previously available via the arguments object.

Rest parameters also work with arrow functions - this is fantastic, because arrow functions did not have the ability to get this previously as the arguments object does not exist within arrow functions.

function concat(joiner, ...args) {

  // args is an actual Array

  return args.join(joiner)

}

concat('_', 1, 2, 3) // returns '1_2_3'

Expanding Arrays with the Spread Operator

The spread operator is a diverse tool that’s now native to JavaScript. It is a useful as a utility to expand an array into parameters for functions or array literals. One case where this is immensely useful, for example, is in cases where values are reused - the spread allows them to be stored and called with a much smaller footprint than previously needed.

Using the spread operator in function parameters:

const numbersArray = [1, 2, 3]
coolFunction(...numbersArray)

// same as
coolFunction(1, 2, 3)

Using the spread operator in array literal parameters:

const arr1 = [1, 2]

const arr2 = [...arr1, 3, 4]
// arr2: [1, 2, 3, 4]

One interesting feature of the Spread operator is its interaction with Emoji. Wes Bos shared an interesting use for the spread operator that gives a very visual example of how it can be used - with Emoji. Here’s an example of that:

Note that neither Hyperterm nor Terminal.app (on an older OS X version) would actually render the new, compound Emoji correctly - it's an interesting example of how JavaScript and Node live on the edge.

Naming of anonymous functions

In ES6, anonymous functions receive a name property. This property is extremely useful when debugging issues with an application - for example, when you get a stack trace caused by an anonymous function, you will be able to get the name of that anonymous function.

This is dramatically more helpful than recieving anonymous as part of the stack trace, as you would have in ES5 and before, as it gives a precise cause instead of a generic one.

var x = function() { }; 

x.name // Returns 'x'

One last thing…

If you’d like to learn more about the changes to Node.js when the v6 release line became LTS, you can check out our blog post: The 10 Key Features in Node.js v6 LTS Boron After You Upgrade.

Otherwise, for more updates about Node, JavaScript, ES6, Electron, npm, yarn, and more, you should follow @NodeSource on Twitter. We're always around and would love to hear from you!