ES7: Array Includes & Exponentiation Operator

In the ever-evolving landscape of JavaScript, each new iteration brings along a plethora of features and improvements aimed at enhancing developer productivity and code readability. ES7, or ECMAScript 2016, is no exception. Among the additions made to the language in ES7, two notable features stand out: the Array includes a method and the exponentiation (**) operator. In this article, we’ll delve into these features, understanding their syntax, and applications, and providing suitable examples to illustrate their usage.

Array Includes(): Effortlessly Checking Array Membership

The includes method is a convenient addition to JavaScript arrays introduced in ES7. It provides a straightforward way to check whether an array includes a certain element, returning true if found, and false otherwise. This method simplifies the process of searching for elements within an array compared to traditional methods like indexOf.

Syntax:

array.includes(element, start)

• array: The array to search.
• element: The element to search for within the array.
• start (optional): The index to start the search from. Defaults to 0.

Explanation:

• includes() returns true if the search Element is found within the array.
• It returns false if the element is not present.
• The optional fromIndex allows you to specify the starting point for the search, making it useful for sub-array searches.

Example:

const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
console.log(numbers.includes(3)); // Output: true
console.log(numbers.includes(6)); // Output: false
const fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"];
console.log(fruits.includes("banana", 1)); // Search from index 1, Output: true

Advantages:

• includes() is more readable than loop-based approaches.
• It handles edge cases like searching for NaN.
• The optional from Index provides flexibility.

Exponentiation Operator(): Raising Numbers to Powers with Ease**

The exponentiation operator (**) is a concise method introduced in ES7 for raising one number to the power of another. It provides a cleaner alternative to traditional methods like Math.pow().

Syntax:

base ** exponent

• base: The number you want to raise to a power.
• exponent: The power to which you want to raise the base.

Explanation:

• base ** exponent calculates base raised to the power of exponent.
• It’s a shorthand for Math.pow(base, exponent).

Example:

const base = 2;
const exponent = 3;
console.log(base ** exponent); // Output: 8 (2 * 2 * 2)
console.log(Math.pow(base, exponent)); // Output: 8 (equivalent result)

Advantages:

• The ** operator is more concise and readable than Math.pow().
• It simplifies mathematical expressions, especially when dealing with frequent exponentiation.

Conclusion:

The Array Includes method and Exponentiation Operator introduced in ES7 enhance JavaScript’s functionality, offering simpler and more expressive ways to perform common tasks. By leveraging these features, developers can write cleaner, more concise code, thereby improving productivity and code maintainability. Incorporating ES7 features into your projects can streamline development workflows and enhance overall code quality.