Simplify if-else variable initialization
Convert a conditional variable initialization with if-else to a conditional expression.

If-statements are sometimes used to initialize variables with different values depending on a condition. This usage of if-statements can lead to unnecessary code duplication and can often be shortened with the conditional operator.
Before (Example)
let movedObject;
if (direction === "left") {
movedObject = moveLeft(original);
} else {
movedObject = moveRight(original);
}
Refactoring Steps
- Convert the if-else statement into a conditional expression
- Merge variable declaration and initialization
- Convert let to const
After (Example)
const movedObject = direction === "left"
? moveLeft(original)
: moveRight(original);
The change to const
is only possible if the variable is not re-assigned later. It has the advantage that it communicates the immutability of movedObject
.