undefined | Better HN

0 pointsIzkata5y ago0 comments

> Undefined is “stored” the same way in JSON, which means it isn’t.

Null is:

  >> JSON.stringify({"foo": undefined});
  "{}"
  >> JSON.stringify({"foo": null});
  "{\"foo\":null}"

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3 comments · 1 top-level

anuila5y ago· 2 in thread

The point is, why use it at all if both values are equivalent to "missing"? I don't see a practical difference between undefined and null in the vast majority of cases, which is the the author is arguing.

Again: In the vast majority of cases. I'm sure you'll find your exceptions.

bpicolo5y ago

I've worked with a ton of APIs where these two aren't equivalent.

Consider partial object updates. "null" means "explicitly set a field to null", whereas undefined means "don't change the value of the field". The distinction is meaningful.

rbanffy5y ago

In the first case I lost the information that the key exists and can contain a value.

The second form makes it explicit.

On the first case, the parser that's getting the data may want to calculate a sensible value. On the second one, it's clear the value is known.

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