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javascriptecmascript-6arrow-functions

Why doesn't my arrow function return a value?

I have an arrow function that looks like this (simplified):

const f = arg => { arg.toUpperCase(); };

But when I call it, I get undefined:

console.log(f("testing")); // undefined

Why?

Example:

const f = arg => { arg.toUpperCase(); };
console.log(f("testing"));

(Note: This is meant to be a clean, canonical dupetarget for the specific issue with arrow functions above.)

Solution

  • When you use the function body version of an arrow function (with {}), there is no implied return. You have to specify it. When you use the concise body (no {}), the result of the body expression is implicitly returned by the function.

    So you would write that either with an explicit return:

    const f = arg => { return arg.toUpperCase(); };
// Explicit return ^^^^^^

    or with a concise body:

    const f = arg => arg.toUpperCase();

    Examples:

    const f1 = arg => { return arg.toUpperCase(); };
console.log(f1("testing"));

const f2 = arg => arg.toUpperCase();
console.log(f2("testing"));

    Slightly tangential, but speaking of {}: If you want the concise arrow's body expression to be an object initializer, put it in ():

    const f = arg => ({prop: arg.toUpperCase()});