Question

I just saw someone use this piece of code:

ctx = canvas.getContext && canvas.getContext('2d');

How does the double ampersand work in this context? Would it not just assign “true” to the ctx variable?

Answer 1

This is a common way to make sure your function exists before you call it.

It works like this (From developer.mozilla.com):

expr1 && expr2 Returns expr1 if it can be converted to false; otherwise, returns expr2. Thus, when used with Boolean values, && returns true if both operands are true; otherwise, returns false.

In other words, Javascript does not coerce the operands to boolean values unless it has to.

4 && 5 Returns 5, not true.

In your case, if the first expression is undefined (which is convertible to false), then ctx will be false, and the second expression does not get evaluated. If the first expression is a function (which cannot be converted to false), then Javascript evaluates the second expression, and assigns it’s value to the ctx variable.