Simplify an if/else statement? [closed]











up vote
21
down vote

favorite
1












I'm trying to simplify the following:



function handleDirection(src) {
if (src === 'left') {
if (inverse) {
tracker--;
} else {
tracker++;
}
} else {
if (inverse) {
tracker++;
} else {
tracker--;
}
}
}


to reduce the number of conditionals. The src will either be 'left' or 'right' always.










share|improve this question















closed as off-topic by Gabriele Petrioli, vlaz, BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft, Daniel, coldspeed Dec 13 at 18:28



  • This question does not appear to be about programming within the scope defined in the help center.

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.









  • 8




    There's now a range of answers - one thing to bear in mind with this sort of thing is maintainability, that includes whether you yourself will understand what this code does next week. Make sure you pick a form of logic that is clear to you what it's doing at a glance - if that's the long form in your original question, stick with it.
    – James Thorpe
    Dec 13 at 10:31






  • 13




    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it belongs to codereview.stackexchange.com
    – Gabriele Petrioli
    Dec 13 at 10:33






  • 9




    Side note: your function uses 3 variables (src, inverse and tracker) but it has only 1 parameter (src) and no return value. For that reason it would not pass my code review, regardless of how you structure the ifs....
    – Peter B
    Dec 13 at 10:34








  • 1




    @PeterB I'd generally agree, but it's worth noting that context is key. If this were a method in an object, then it might be fine. This could be manipulating some sort of cursor (tracker) via commands ("left"/"right"), the object itself has a flag that it would be moved in the opposite direction (invert). However, as a free-floating function, that's indeed bad, as you're manipulating some not necessarily related global states.
    – vlaz
    Dec 13 at 10:44






  • 3




    I think the main benefit of this question is just to let others earn more reputation more easily!
    – lucumt
    Dec 13 at 10:57

















up vote
21
down vote

favorite
1












I'm trying to simplify the following:



function handleDirection(src) {
if (src === 'left') {
if (inverse) {
tracker--;
} else {
tracker++;
}
} else {
if (inverse) {
tracker++;
} else {
tracker--;
}
}
}


to reduce the number of conditionals. The src will either be 'left' or 'right' always.










share|improve this question















closed as off-topic by Gabriele Petrioli, vlaz, BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft, Daniel, coldspeed Dec 13 at 18:28



  • This question does not appear to be about programming within the scope defined in the help center.

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.









  • 8




    There's now a range of answers - one thing to bear in mind with this sort of thing is maintainability, that includes whether you yourself will understand what this code does next week. Make sure you pick a form of logic that is clear to you what it's doing at a glance - if that's the long form in your original question, stick with it.
    – James Thorpe
    Dec 13 at 10:31






  • 13




    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it belongs to codereview.stackexchange.com
    – Gabriele Petrioli
    Dec 13 at 10:33






  • 9




    Side note: your function uses 3 variables (src, inverse and tracker) but it has only 1 parameter (src) and no return value. For that reason it would not pass my code review, regardless of how you structure the ifs....
    – Peter B
    Dec 13 at 10:34








  • 1




    @PeterB I'd generally agree, but it's worth noting that context is key. If this were a method in an object, then it might be fine. This could be manipulating some sort of cursor (tracker) via commands ("left"/"right"), the object itself has a flag that it would be moved in the opposite direction (invert). However, as a free-floating function, that's indeed bad, as you're manipulating some not necessarily related global states.
    – vlaz
    Dec 13 at 10:44






  • 3




    I think the main benefit of this question is just to let others earn more reputation more easily!
    – lucumt
    Dec 13 at 10:57















up vote
21
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
21
down vote

favorite
1






1





I'm trying to simplify the following:



function handleDirection(src) {
if (src === 'left') {
if (inverse) {
tracker--;
} else {
tracker++;
}
} else {
if (inverse) {
tracker++;
} else {
tracker--;
}
}
}


to reduce the number of conditionals. The src will either be 'left' or 'right' always.










share|improve this question















I'm trying to simplify the following:



function handleDirection(src) {
if (src === 'left') {
if (inverse) {
tracker--;
} else {
tracker++;
}
} else {
if (inverse) {
tracker++;
} else {
tracker--;
}
}
}


to reduce the number of conditionals. The src will either be 'left' or 'right' always.







javascript if-statement conditional






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Dec 13 at 17:34









Charlie Harding

261414




261414










asked Dec 13 at 10:24









Rebecca O'Sullivan

411214




411214




closed as off-topic by Gabriele Petrioli, vlaz, BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft, Daniel, coldspeed Dec 13 at 18:28



  • This question does not appear to be about programming within the scope defined in the help center.

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.




closed as off-topic by Gabriele Petrioli, vlaz, BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft, Daniel, coldspeed Dec 13 at 18:28



  • This question does not appear to be about programming within the scope defined in the help center.

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.








  • 8




    There's now a range of answers - one thing to bear in mind with this sort of thing is maintainability, that includes whether you yourself will understand what this code does next week. Make sure you pick a form of logic that is clear to you what it's doing at a glance - if that's the long form in your original question, stick with it.
    – James Thorpe
    Dec 13 at 10:31






  • 13




    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it belongs to codereview.stackexchange.com
    – Gabriele Petrioli
    Dec 13 at 10:33






  • 9




    Side note: your function uses 3 variables (src, inverse and tracker) but it has only 1 parameter (src) and no return value. For that reason it would not pass my code review, regardless of how you structure the ifs....
    – Peter B
    Dec 13 at 10:34








  • 1




    @PeterB I'd generally agree, but it's worth noting that context is key. If this were a method in an object, then it might be fine. This could be manipulating some sort of cursor (tracker) via commands ("left"/"right"), the object itself has a flag that it would be moved in the opposite direction (invert). However, as a free-floating function, that's indeed bad, as you're manipulating some not necessarily related global states.
    – vlaz
    Dec 13 at 10:44






  • 3




    I think the main benefit of this question is just to let others earn more reputation more easily!
    – lucumt
    Dec 13 at 10:57
















  • 8




    There's now a range of answers - one thing to bear in mind with this sort of thing is maintainability, that includes whether you yourself will understand what this code does next week. Make sure you pick a form of logic that is clear to you what it's doing at a glance - if that's the long form in your original question, stick with it.
    – James Thorpe
    Dec 13 at 10:31






  • 13




    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it belongs to codereview.stackexchange.com
    – Gabriele Petrioli
    Dec 13 at 10:33






  • 9




    Side note: your function uses 3 variables (src, inverse and tracker) but it has only 1 parameter (src) and no return value. For that reason it would not pass my code review, regardless of how you structure the ifs....
    – Peter B
    Dec 13 at 10:34








  • 1




    @PeterB I'd generally agree, but it's worth noting that context is key. If this were a method in an object, then it might be fine. This could be manipulating some sort of cursor (tracker) via commands ("left"/"right"), the object itself has a flag that it would be moved in the opposite direction (invert). However, as a free-floating function, that's indeed bad, as you're manipulating some not necessarily related global states.
    – vlaz
    Dec 13 at 10:44






  • 3




    I think the main benefit of this question is just to let others earn more reputation more easily!
    – lucumt
    Dec 13 at 10:57










8




8




There's now a range of answers - one thing to bear in mind with this sort of thing is maintainability, that includes whether you yourself will understand what this code does next week. Make sure you pick a form of logic that is clear to you what it's doing at a glance - if that's the long form in your original question, stick with it.
– James Thorpe
Dec 13 at 10:31




There's now a range of answers - one thing to bear in mind with this sort of thing is maintainability, that includes whether you yourself will understand what this code does next week. Make sure you pick a form of logic that is clear to you what it's doing at a glance - if that's the long form in your original question, stick with it.
– James Thorpe
Dec 13 at 10:31




13




13




I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it belongs to codereview.stackexchange.com
– Gabriele Petrioli
Dec 13 at 10:33




I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it belongs to codereview.stackexchange.com
– Gabriele Petrioli
Dec 13 at 10:33




9




9




Side note: your function uses 3 variables (src, inverse and tracker) but it has only 1 parameter (src) and no return value. For that reason it would not pass my code review, regardless of how you structure the ifs....
– Peter B
Dec 13 at 10:34






Side note: your function uses 3 variables (src, inverse and tracker) but it has only 1 parameter (src) and no return value. For that reason it would not pass my code review, regardless of how you structure the ifs....
– Peter B
Dec 13 at 10:34






1




1




@PeterB I'd generally agree, but it's worth noting that context is key. If this were a method in an object, then it might be fine. This could be manipulating some sort of cursor (tracker) via commands ("left"/"right"), the object itself has a flag that it would be moved in the opposite direction (invert). However, as a free-floating function, that's indeed bad, as you're manipulating some not necessarily related global states.
– vlaz
Dec 13 at 10:44




@PeterB I'd generally agree, but it's worth noting that context is key. If this were a method in an object, then it might be fine. This could be manipulating some sort of cursor (tracker) via commands ("left"/"right"), the object itself has a flag that it would be moved in the opposite direction (invert). However, as a free-floating function, that's indeed bad, as you're manipulating some not necessarily related global states.
– vlaz
Dec 13 at 10:44




3




3




I think the main benefit of this question is just to let others earn more reputation more easily!
– lucumt
Dec 13 at 10:57






I think the main benefit of this question is just to let others earn more reputation more easily!
– lucumt
Dec 13 at 10:57














12 Answers
12






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
35
down vote



accepted










You could check with the result of the first check.



This is an exclusive OR check.



// typeof inverse === 'boolean'

function handleDirection(src) {
if (src === 'left' === inverse) {
tracker--;
} else {
tracker++;
}
}


The check evaluates the expression in this order (src === 'left') === inverse:



src === 'left' === inverse
---- first --- returns a boolean value
--------- second --------- take result of former check & compairs it with another boolean





share|improve this answer



















  • 2




    ^^ only in this special case
    – Nina Scholz
    Dec 13 at 10:33






  • 1




    Ah, makes sense I suppose (bool) == (condition_met) .. +2 skill points to efficiency! thank you :)
    – treyBake
    Dec 13 at 10:40






  • 6




    I definitely agree with @marcelm. As wonderful as this answer looks, it is not immediately obvious what is happening.
    – Marie
    Dec 13 at 16:18






  • 5




    I'd use this only if you really need the performance boost and/or only work with people who'd be able to intuitively read this and come up with this. The other approach maybe longer, but it's much more readable to the average developer.
    – Darkwing
    Dec 13 at 16:21






  • 1




    @afe If you're doing it with the ternary operator, I think an increment (tracker += (src == 'left') == inverse ? -1 : +1;) is a little clearer
    – Charlie Harding
    Dec 13 at 17:05


















up vote
12
down vote













function handleDirection(src) {
var movement = 1;
if(src === 'left')
movement = -1;

if(inverse)
tracker += movement;
else
tracker -= movement;
}





share|improve this answer



















  • 2




    This creates an unnecessary extra variable imo... Using tracker-- and tracker++ is the correct way to increase and decrease the variable in this case. If it were desired to increase or lower the variable with more than one this might be a good guideline.
    – MagicLegend
    Dec 13 at 11:01








  • 3




    @MagicLegend Actually, I think the variable helps bring "real world" parity to the solution. The other answers focus on "efficiency" which is probably irrelevant in such a simple case. The interpreter doesn't need help reading, but humans do. Although I upvoted, I would go further and give the variable a more meaningful name like adjustment or movement.
    – TheRubberDuck
    Dec 13 at 16:41


















up vote
9
down vote













You can even do it with just one line of Code:



function getDirectionOffset(src) {
tracker += (src === 'left' ? 1 : -1) * (inverse ? -1 : 1);
}





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  • 1




    Very nice solution!
    – Julius Naeumann
    Dec 14 at 12:52


















up vote
5
down vote













This could be simplified to a ternary expression which returns 1 or -1 depending on the state. Then you can just add that to the tracker.



function handleDirection(src) {
var delta = (src === 'left' && inverse) || (src !== 'left' && !inverse) ? -1 : 1;
tracker += delta;
}


This could then be simplified further using the logic which @NinaScholz pointed out in her answer:



function handleDirection(src) {
var delta = (src === 'left') === inverse ? -1 : 1;
tracker += delta;
}





share|improve this answer






























    up vote
    4
    down vote













    You want to increase the tracker if one of src == left or inverse is true but not the other, and decrease it otherwise, which is what the "XOR" ^ operator does :



    function handleDirection(src) {
    if (src === 'left' ^ inverse) {
    tracker++;
    } else {
    tracker--;
    }
    }


    You can reduce that further by using a ternary expression :



    function handleDirection(src) {
    tracker += src === 'left' ^ inverse ? 1 : -1;
    }


    Or if you want to avoid any kind of conditionnal, with implicit casts and "clever" arithmetics :



    function handleDirection(src) {
    tracker += 1 - 2 * (src === 'right' ^ inverse); // either 1-0=1 or 1-2=-1
    }





    share|improve this answer



















    • 1




      You got the logic backwards, and I hate the third example, but +1 for actually using the operator built for this.
      – Jacob Raihle
      Dec 13 at 17:08






    • 1




      @JacobRaihle thanks, I fixed the backward logic. The quotes around "clever" for the third example are sarcasm quotes, I wouldn't recommend using it unless the only point is to play the smartass.
      – Aaron
      Dec 13 at 17:18


















    up vote
    3
    down vote













    Assuming inverse is a flag you'd set once, then you don't need to take it into account every time, you can calculate its impact once and just use it as it is, which will cut down your code branches and logic. If you want to change it as you go along, then you might need to separate the logic for the calculation, in order to re-use it.



    You can also then extract the movement direction into a self-contained function and your handleDirection becomes very simple - you calculate the direction you want to go based on src and the invert.






    let tracker = 0;

    //extract logic for the movement offset based on direction
    function getDirectionOffset(src) {
    return src === 'left' ? 1 : -1;
    }

    //have a setter for the invert property
    function setInverse(isInverse) {
    movementModifier = isInverse ? -1 : 1
    }

    //declare the variable dependent on the inverse property
    let movementModifier;

    //initialise movementModifier variable
    setInverse(false);

    function handleDirection(src) {
    const offset = getDirectionOffset(src) * movementModifier;

    tracker += offset;
    }


    // usage
    setInverse(true);

    handleDirection("left");
    handleDirection("left");
    handleDirection("right");

    console.log(tracker);





    With that said, all this suggests you shouldn't be using a function, or you should be using it differently. You can collect all that functionality in a class or instead have all the information passed around functions, so you don't have globals. Here is a sample object oriented implementation of the concept:






    class TrackerMover {
    constructor(inverse) {
    this.tracker = 0;
    this.movementModifier = inverse ? 1 : -1
    }

    handleDirection(src) {
    const offset = this.getDirectionOffset(src) * this.movementModifier;

    this.tracker += offset;
    }

    getDirectionOffset(src) {
    return src === 'left' ? -1 : 1;
    }

    getPosition() {
    return this.tracker;
    }
    }


    //usage
    const mover = new TrackerMover(true);

    mover.handleDirection("left");
    mover.handleDirection("left");
    mover.handleDirection("right");

    console.log(mover.getPosition())





    By the way, another alternative is to NOT compute the movement every time. You actually know what is happening every time - in effect, you have a truth table where your inputs are src === left and inverse and the outputs are how you modify your tracking.



    +--------+------------+--------+
    | isLeft | isInverted | Offset |
    +--------+------------+--------+
    | true | true | -1 |
    | true | false | 1 |
    | false | true | 1 |
    | false | false | -1 |
    +--------+------------+--------+


    So, you can just put that table in.






    let tracker = 0;
    let invert = false;

    const movementLookupTable = {
    "true": { },
    "false": { },
    }

    //it can be initialised as part of the above expression but this is more readable
    movementLookupTable[true ][true ] = -1;
    movementLookupTable[true ][false] = 1;
    movementLookupTable[false][true ] = 1;
    movementLookupTable[false][false] = -1;

    function handleDirection(src) {
    const offset = movementLookupTable[src === "left"][invert];

    tracker += offset;
    }


    // usage
    invert = true;

    handleDirection("left");
    handleDirection("left");
    handleDirection("right");

    console.log(tracker);





    In this case it might be an overkill but this approach might be useful if there are more flags (including more values for the flags) and/or end states. For example, maybe you want to introduce four directions, but you don't modify the tracker value if it's up or down.



    +-----------+------------+--------+
    | direction | isInverted | Offset |
    +-----------+------------+--------+
    | left | true | -1 |
    | left | false | 1 |
    | right | true | 1 |
    | right | false | -1 |
    | up | false | 0 |
    | up | true | 0 |
    | down | false | 0 |
    | down | true | 0 |
    +-----------+------------+--------+


    As you can see, now it's not just booleans, you can handle any value. Using a table, you also then change invert to be something like windDirection, so if the movement is left and the windDirection is right, the result is like what it is now, but you could have direction of left and wind going left, so you move further. Or you can move up and the wind direction is left so tracker (at this point the X coordinates) is going to actually be modified.



    +-----------+---------------+---------+
    | direction | windDirection | OffsetX |
    +-----------+---------------+---------+
    | left | right | -1 |
    | left | up | 1 |
    | left | down | 1 |
    | left | left | 2 |
    | right | up | -1 |
    | right | down | -1 |
    | right | right | -2 |
    | right | left | 1 |
    | up | up | 0 |
    | up | down | 0 |
    | up | left | 1 |
    | up | right | -1 |
    | down | up | 0 |
    | down | down | 0 |
    | down | left | 1 |
    | down | right | -1 |
    +-----------+---------------+---------+


    With four directions and four wind directions to take into account the logic can be quite annoying to both read and maintain in the future, while if you only have a lookup table, it's easy and you can easily extend this to even handle diagonals (let's assume they change the value by 0.5 instead of 1) and your algorithm would not really care as long as you just fetch the values from the table.






    share|improve this answer






























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      This has only one conditional, and I find it reads more intuitively than the other answers:



      function handleDirection(src) {
      if (
      ((src === 'left') && !inverse) ||
      ((src === 'right') && inverse)
      ) {
      tracker++;
      }
      else {
      tracker--;
      }
      }





      share|improve this answer




























        up vote
        1
        down vote













        You can use short circuiting syntax or ternary operators



        // by using short circuiting
        function handleDirection(src) {
        if (src == 'left') tracker = inverse && tracker-1 || tracker +1
        else tracker = inverse && tracker+1 || tracker -1
        }
        // by using ternary operator
        function handleDirection(src) {
        if (src == 'left') tracker = inverse ? tracker-1 : tracker +1
        else tracker = inverse ? tracker+1 : tracker -1
        }





        share|improve this answer




























          up vote
          1
          down vote













          Not the shortest possible, but hopefully clear:



          const LEFT = 'left'
          const RIGHT = 'right'


          function handleMovement(src) {
          tracker += movementIncrement(src, inverse)
          }

          function movementIncrement(direction, inverse) {
          if (inverse) {
          direction = inverseDirection(direction)
          }
          return LEFT ? -1 : +1
          }

          function inverseDirection(direction) {
          return direction === LEFT ? RIGHT : LEFT
          }





          share|improve this answer




























            up vote
            1
            down vote













            I dislike elses and try to avoid nesting if possible. I think this conveys the idea of inverse in a more natural way:



            function handleDirection(src) 
            {
            let change = 1;

            if ('right' == src)
            change = -1;

            if (inverse)
            change = -change;

            tracker += change;
            }





            share|improve this answer




























              up vote
              1
              down vote













              Right now you are comparing on strings, which I wouldn't advise. If for example you use 'Left' instead of 'left' it will fail the first if statement. Perhaps a boolean could be of use here, since you can guarantee it only has two states.



              The if statements inside can be compressed via conditional operators.



              Perhaps something like this is what you are looking for:



              function handleDirection(src) {
              if (src) {
              inverse ? tracker-- : tracker++;
              } else {
              inverse ? tracker++ : tracker--;
              }
              }


              See: https://jsfiddle.net/9zr4f3nv/






              share|improve this answer



















              • 3




                Your two branches of the if statement are identical: one of them needs to be reversed
                – Charlie Harding
                Dec 13 at 17:03










              • Oopsie! You're right hehe. Corrected!
                – MagicLegend
                Dec 14 at 17:06


















              up vote
              -1
              down vote













              You could use an 2 dimensional array type data structure from js and store the desired outcomes at index sec and inverse. Or JSON.






              share|improve this answer




























                12 Answers
                12






                active

                oldest

                votes








                12 Answers
                12






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes








                up vote
                35
                down vote



                accepted










                You could check with the result of the first check.



                This is an exclusive OR check.



                // typeof inverse === 'boolean'

                function handleDirection(src) {
                if (src === 'left' === inverse) {
                tracker--;
                } else {
                tracker++;
                }
                }


                The check evaluates the expression in this order (src === 'left') === inverse:



                src === 'left' === inverse
                ---- first --- returns a boolean value
                --------- second --------- take result of former check & compairs it with another boolean





                share|improve this answer



















                • 2




                  ^^ only in this special case
                  – Nina Scholz
                  Dec 13 at 10:33






                • 1




                  Ah, makes sense I suppose (bool) == (condition_met) .. +2 skill points to efficiency! thank you :)
                  – treyBake
                  Dec 13 at 10:40






                • 6




                  I definitely agree with @marcelm. As wonderful as this answer looks, it is not immediately obvious what is happening.
                  – Marie
                  Dec 13 at 16:18






                • 5




                  I'd use this only if you really need the performance boost and/or only work with people who'd be able to intuitively read this and come up with this. The other approach maybe longer, but it's much more readable to the average developer.
                  – Darkwing
                  Dec 13 at 16:21






                • 1




                  @afe If you're doing it with the ternary operator, I think an increment (tracker += (src == 'left') == inverse ? -1 : +1;) is a little clearer
                  – Charlie Harding
                  Dec 13 at 17:05















                up vote
                35
                down vote



                accepted










                You could check with the result of the first check.



                This is an exclusive OR check.



                // typeof inverse === 'boolean'

                function handleDirection(src) {
                if (src === 'left' === inverse) {
                tracker--;
                } else {
                tracker++;
                }
                }


                The check evaluates the expression in this order (src === 'left') === inverse:



                src === 'left' === inverse
                ---- first --- returns a boolean value
                --------- second --------- take result of former check & compairs it with another boolean





                share|improve this answer



















                • 2




                  ^^ only in this special case
                  – Nina Scholz
                  Dec 13 at 10:33






                • 1




                  Ah, makes sense I suppose (bool) == (condition_met) .. +2 skill points to efficiency! thank you :)
                  – treyBake
                  Dec 13 at 10:40






                • 6




                  I definitely agree with @marcelm. As wonderful as this answer looks, it is not immediately obvious what is happening.
                  – Marie
                  Dec 13 at 16:18






                • 5




                  I'd use this only if you really need the performance boost and/or only work with people who'd be able to intuitively read this and come up with this. The other approach maybe longer, but it's much more readable to the average developer.
                  – Darkwing
                  Dec 13 at 16:21






                • 1




                  @afe If you're doing it with the ternary operator, I think an increment (tracker += (src == 'left') == inverse ? -1 : +1;) is a little clearer
                  – Charlie Harding
                  Dec 13 at 17:05













                up vote
                35
                down vote



                accepted







                up vote
                35
                down vote



                accepted






                You could check with the result of the first check.



                This is an exclusive OR check.



                // typeof inverse === 'boolean'

                function handleDirection(src) {
                if (src === 'left' === inverse) {
                tracker--;
                } else {
                tracker++;
                }
                }


                The check evaluates the expression in this order (src === 'left') === inverse:



                src === 'left' === inverse
                ---- first --- returns a boolean value
                --------- second --------- take result of former check & compairs it with another boolean





                share|improve this answer














                You could check with the result of the first check.



                This is an exclusive OR check.



                // typeof inverse === 'boolean'

                function handleDirection(src) {
                if (src === 'left' === inverse) {
                tracker--;
                } else {
                tracker++;
                }
                }


                The check evaluates the expression in this order (src === 'left') === inverse:



                src === 'left' === inverse
                ---- first --- returns a boolean value
                --------- second --------- take result of former check & compairs it with another boolean






                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited 2 days ago

























                answered Dec 13 at 10:29









                Nina Scholz

                174k1387151




                174k1387151








                • 2




                  ^^ only in this special case
                  – Nina Scholz
                  Dec 13 at 10:33






                • 1




                  Ah, makes sense I suppose (bool) == (condition_met) .. +2 skill points to efficiency! thank you :)
                  – treyBake
                  Dec 13 at 10:40






                • 6




                  I definitely agree with @marcelm. As wonderful as this answer looks, it is not immediately obvious what is happening.
                  – Marie
                  Dec 13 at 16:18






                • 5




                  I'd use this only if you really need the performance boost and/or only work with people who'd be able to intuitively read this and come up with this. The other approach maybe longer, but it's much more readable to the average developer.
                  – Darkwing
                  Dec 13 at 16:21






                • 1




                  @afe If you're doing it with the ternary operator, I think an increment (tracker += (src == 'left') == inverse ? -1 : +1;) is a little clearer
                  – Charlie Harding
                  Dec 13 at 17:05














                • 2




                  ^^ only in this special case
                  – Nina Scholz
                  Dec 13 at 10:33






                • 1




                  Ah, makes sense I suppose (bool) == (condition_met) .. +2 skill points to efficiency! thank you :)
                  – treyBake
                  Dec 13 at 10:40






                • 6




                  I definitely agree with @marcelm. As wonderful as this answer looks, it is not immediately obvious what is happening.
                  – Marie
                  Dec 13 at 16:18






                • 5




                  I'd use this only if you really need the performance boost and/or only work with people who'd be able to intuitively read this and come up with this. The other approach maybe longer, but it's much more readable to the average developer.
                  – Darkwing
                  Dec 13 at 16:21






                • 1




                  @afe If you're doing it with the ternary operator, I think an increment (tracker += (src == 'left') == inverse ? -1 : +1;) is a little clearer
                  – Charlie Harding
                  Dec 13 at 17:05








                2




                2




                ^^ only in this special case
                – Nina Scholz
                Dec 13 at 10:33




                ^^ only in this special case
                – Nina Scholz
                Dec 13 at 10:33




                1




                1




                Ah, makes sense I suppose (bool) == (condition_met) .. +2 skill points to efficiency! thank you :)
                – treyBake
                Dec 13 at 10:40




                Ah, makes sense I suppose (bool) == (condition_met) .. +2 skill points to efficiency! thank you :)
                – treyBake
                Dec 13 at 10:40




                6




                6




                I definitely agree with @marcelm. As wonderful as this answer looks, it is not immediately obvious what is happening.
                – Marie
                Dec 13 at 16:18




                I definitely agree with @marcelm. As wonderful as this answer looks, it is not immediately obvious what is happening.
                – Marie
                Dec 13 at 16:18




                5




                5




                I'd use this only if you really need the performance boost and/or only work with people who'd be able to intuitively read this and come up with this. The other approach maybe longer, but it's much more readable to the average developer.
                – Darkwing
                Dec 13 at 16:21




                I'd use this only if you really need the performance boost and/or only work with people who'd be able to intuitively read this and come up with this. The other approach maybe longer, but it's much more readable to the average developer.
                – Darkwing
                Dec 13 at 16:21




                1




                1




                @afe If you're doing it with the ternary operator, I think an increment (tracker += (src == 'left') == inverse ? -1 : +1;) is a little clearer
                – Charlie Harding
                Dec 13 at 17:05




                @afe If you're doing it with the ternary operator, I think an increment (tracker += (src == 'left') == inverse ? -1 : +1;) is a little clearer
                – Charlie Harding
                Dec 13 at 17:05












                up vote
                12
                down vote













                function handleDirection(src) {
                var movement = 1;
                if(src === 'left')
                movement = -1;

                if(inverse)
                tracker += movement;
                else
                tracker -= movement;
                }





                share|improve this answer



















                • 2




                  This creates an unnecessary extra variable imo... Using tracker-- and tracker++ is the correct way to increase and decrease the variable in this case. If it were desired to increase or lower the variable with more than one this might be a good guideline.
                  – MagicLegend
                  Dec 13 at 11:01








                • 3




                  @MagicLegend Actually, I think the variable helps bring "real world" parity to the solution. The other answers focus on "efficiency" which is probably irrelevant in such a simple case. The interpreter doesn't need help reading, but humans do. Although I upvoted, I would go further and give the variable a more meaningful name like adjustment or movement.
                  – TheRubberDuck
                  Dec 13 at 16:41















                up vote
                12
                down vote













                function handleDirection(src) {
                var movement = 1;
                if(src === 'left')
                movement = -1;

                if(inverse)
                tracker += movement;
                else
                tracker -= movement;
                }





                share|improve this answer



















                • 2




                  This creates an unnecessary extra variable imo... Using tracker-- and tracker++ is the correct way to increase and decrease the variable in this case. If it were desired to increase or lower the variable with more than one this might be a good guideline.
                  – MagicLegend
                  Dec 13 at 11:01








                • 3




                  @MagicLegend Actually, I think the variable helps bring "real world" parity to the solution. The other answers focus on "efficiency" which is probably irrelevant in such a simple case. The interpreter doesn't need help reading, but humans do. Although I upvoted, I would go further and give the variable a more meaningful name like adjustment or movement.
                  – TheRubberDuck
                  Dec 13 at 16:41













                up vote
                12
                down vote










                up vote
                12
                down vote









                function handleDirection(src) {
                var movement = 1;
                if(src === 'left')
                movement = -1;

                if(inverse)
                tracker += movement;
                else
                tracker -= movement;
                }





                share|improve this answer














                function handleDirection(src) {
                var movement = 1;
                if(src === 'left')
                movement = -1;

                if(inverse)
                tracker += movement;
                else
                tracker -= movement;
                }






                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Dec 14 at 15:26

























                answered Dec 13 at 10:30









                Alays

                3069




                3069








                • 2




                  This creates an unnecessary extra variable imo... Using tracker-- and tracker++ is the correct way to increase and decrease the variable in this case. If it were desired to increase or lower the variable with more than one this might be a good guideline.
                  – MagicLegend
                  Dec 13 at 11:01








                • 3




                  @MagicLegend Actually, I think the variable helps bring "real world" parity to the solution. The other answers focus on "efficiency" which is probably irrelevant in such a simple case. The interpreter doesn't need help reading, but humans do. Although I upvoted, I would go further and give the variable a more meaningful name like adjustment or movement.
                  – TheRubberDuck
                  Dec 13 at 16:41














                • 2




                  This creates an unnecessary extra variable imo... Using tracker-- and tracker++ is the correct way to increase and decrease the variable in this case. If it were desired to increase or lower the variable with more than one this might be a good guideline.
                  – MagicLegend
                  Dec 13 at 11:01








                • 3




                  @MagicLegend Actually, I think the variable helps bring "real world" parity to the solution. The other answers focus on "efficiency" which is probably irrelevant in such a simple case. The interpreter doesn't need help reading, but humans do. Although I upvoted, I would go further and give the variable a more meaningful name like adjustment or movement.
                  – TheRubberDuck
                  Dec 13 at 16:41








                2




                2




                This creates an unnecessary extra variable imo... Using tracker-- and tracker++ is the correct way to increase and decrease the variable in this case. If it were desired to increase or lower the variable with more than one this might be a good guideline.
                – MagicLegend
                Dec 13 at 11:01






                This creates an unnecessary extra variable imo... Using tracker-- and tracker++ is the correct way to increase and decrease the variable in this case. If it were desired to increase or lower the variable with more than one this might be a good guideline.
                – MagicLegend
                Dec 13 at 11:01






                3




                3




                @MagicLegend Actually, I think the variable helps bring "real world" parity to the solution. The other answers focus on "efficiency" which is probably irrelevant in such a simple case. The interpreter doesn't need help reading, but humans do. Although I upvoted, I would go further and give the variable a more meaningful name like adjustment or movement.
                – TheRubberDuck
                Dec 13 at 16:41




                @MagicLegend Actually, I think the variable helps bring "real world" parity to the solution. The other answers focus on "efficiency" which is probably irrelevant in such a simple case. The interpreter doesn't need help reading, but humans do. Although I upvoted, I would go further and give the variable a more meaningful name like adjustment or movement.
                – TheRubberDuck
                Dec 13 at 16:41










                up vote
                9
                down vote













                You can even do it with just one line of Code:



                function getDirectionOffset(src) {
                tracker += (src === 'left' ? 1 : -1) * (inverse ? -1 : 1);
                }





                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Leuronics is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.














                • 1




                  Very nice solution!
                  – Julius Naeumann
                  Dec 14 at 12:52















                up vote
                9
                down vote













                You can even do it with just one line of Code:



                function getDirectionOffset(src) {
                tracker += (src === 'left' ? 1 : -1) * (inverse ? -1 : 1);
                }





                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Leuronics is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.














                • 1




                  Very nice solution!
                  – Julius Naeumann
                  Dec 14 at 12:52













                up vote
                9
                down vote










                up vote
                9
                down vote









                You can even do it with just one line of Code:



                function getDirectionOffset(src) {
                tracker += (src === 'left' ? 1 : -1) * (inverse ? -1 : 1);
                }





                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Leuronics is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                You can even do it with just one line of Code:



                function getDirectionOffset(src) {
                tracker += (src === 'left' ? 1 : -1) * (inverse ? -1 : 1);
                }






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Leuronics is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer






                New contributor




                Leuronics is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                answered Dec 13 at 12:20









                Leuronics

                912




                912




                New contributor




                Leuronics is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.





                New contributor





                Leuronics is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                Leuronics is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.








                • 1




                  Very nice solution!
                  – Julius Naeumann
                  Dec 14 at 12:52














                • 1




                  Very nice solution!
                  – Julius Naeumann
                  Dec 14 at 12:52








                1




                1




                Very nice solution!
                – Julius Naeumann
                Dec 14 at 12:52




                Very nice solution!
                – Julius Naeumann
                Dec 14 at 12:52










                up vote
                5
                down vote













                This could be simplified to a ternary expression which returns 1 or -1 depending on the state. Then you can just add that to the tracker.



                function handleDirection(src) {
                var delta = (src === 'left' && inverse) || (src !== 'left' && !inverse) ? -1 : 1;
                tracker += delta;
                }


                This could then be simplified further using the logic which @NinaScholz pointed out in her answer:



                function handleDirection(src) {
                var delta = (src === 'left') === inverse ? -1 : 1;
                tracker += delta;
                }





                share|improve this answer



























                  up vote
                  5
                  down vote













                  This could be simplified to a ternary expression which returns 1 or -1 depending on the state. Then you can just add that to the tracker.



                  function handleDirection(src) {
                  var delta = (src === 'left' && inverse) || (src !== 'left' && !inverse) ? -1 : 1;
                  tracker += delta;
                  }


                  This could then be simplified further using the logic which @NinaScholz pointed out in her answer:



                  function handleDirection(src) {
                  var delta = (src === 'left') === inverse ? -1 : 1;
                  tracker += delta;
                  }





                  share|improve this answer

























                    up vote
                    5
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    5
                    down vote









                    This could be simplified to a ternary expression which returns 1 or -1 depending on the state. Then you can just add that to the tracker.



                    function handleDirection(src) {
                    var delta = (src === 'left' && inverse) || (src !== 'left' && !inverse) ? -1 : 1;
                    tracker += delta;
                    }


                    This could then be simplified further using the logic which @NinaScholz pointed out in her answer:



                    function handleDirection(src) {
                    var delta = (src === 'left') === inverse ? -1 : 1;
                    tracker += delta;
                    }





                    share|improve this answer














                    This could be simplified to a ternary expression which returns 1 or -1 depending on the state. Then you can just add that to the tracker.



                    function handleDirection(src) {
                    var delta = (src === 'left' && inverse) || (src !== 'left' && !inverse) ? -1 : 1;
                    tracker += delta;
                    }


                    This could then be simplified further using the logic which @NinaScholz pointed out in her answer:



                    function handleDirection(src) {
                    var delta = (src === 'left') === inverse ? -1 : 1;
                    tracker += delta;
                    }






                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Dec 13 at 10:34

























                    answered Dec 13 at 10:29









                    Rory McCrossan

                    240k29205244




                    240k29205244






















                        up vote
                        4
                        down vote













                        You want to increase the tracker if one of src == left or inverse is true but not the other, and decrease it otherwise, which is what the "XOR" ^ operator does :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        if (src === 'left' ^ inverse) {
                        tracker++;
                        } else {
                        tracker--;
                        }
                        }


                        You can reduce that further by using a ternary expression :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        tracker += src === 'left' ^ inverse ? 1 : -1;
                        }


                        Or if you want to avoid any kind of conditionnal, with implicit casts and "clever" arithmetics :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        tracker += 1 - 2 * (src === 'right' ^ inverse); // either 1-0=1 or 1-2=-1
                        }





                        share|improve this answer



















                        • 1




                          You got the logic backwards, and I hate the third example, but +1 for actually using the operator built for this.
                          – Jacob Raihle
                          Dec 13 at 17:08






                        • 1




                          @JacobRaihle thanks, I fixed the backward logic. The quotes around "clever" for the third example are sarcasm quotes, I wouldn't recommend using it unless the only point is to play the smartass.
                          – Aaron
                          Dec 13 at 17:18















                        up vote
                        4
                        down vote













                        You want to increase the tracker if one of src == left or inverse is true but not the other, and decrease it otherwise, which is what the "XOR" ^ operator does :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        if (src === 'left' ^ inverse) {
                        tracker++;
                        } else {
                        tracker--;
                        }
                        }


                        You can reduce that further by using a ternary expression :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        tracker += src === 'left' ^ inverse ? 1 : -1;
                        }


                        Or if you want to avoid any kind of conditionnal, with implicit casts and "clever" arithmetics :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        tracker += 1 - 2 * (src === 'right' ^ inverse); // either 1-0=1 or 1-2=-1
                        }





                        share|improve this answer



















                        • 1




                          You got the logic backwards, and I hate the third example, but +1 for actually using the operator built for this.
                          – Jacob Raihle
                          Dec 13 at 17:08






                        • 1




                          @JacobRaihle thanks, I fixed the backward logic. The quotes around "clever" for the third example are sarcasm quotes, I wouldn't recommend using it unless the only point is to play the smartass.
                          – Aaron
                          Dec 13 at 17:18













                        up vote
                        4
                        down vote










                        up vote
                        4
                        down vote









                        You want to increase the tracker if one of src == left or inverse is true but not the other, and decrease it otherwise, which is what the "XOR" ^ operator does :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        if (src === 'left' ^ inverse) {
                        tracker++;
                        } else {
                        tracker--;
                        }
                        }


                        You can reduce that further by using a ternary expression :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        tracker += src === 'left' ^ inverse ? 1 : -1;
                        }


                        Or if you want to avoid any kind of conditionnal, with implicit casts and "clever" arithmetics :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        tracker += 1 - 2 * (src === 'right' ^ inverse); // either 1-0=1 or 1-2=-1
                        }





                        share|improve this answer














                        You want to increase the tracker if one of src == left or inverse is true but not the other, and decrease it otherwise, which is what the "XOR" ^ operator does :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        if (src === 'left' ^ inverse) {
                        tracker++;
                        } else {
                        tracker--;
                        }
                        }


                        You can reduce that further by using a ternary expression :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        tracker += src === 'left' ^ inverse ? 1 : -1;
                        }


                        Or if you want to avoid any kind of conditionnal, with implicit casts and "clever" arithmetics :



                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        tracker += 1 - 2 * (src === 'right' ^ inverse); // either 1-0=1 or 1-2=-1
                        }






                        share|improve this answer














                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer








                        edited yesterday

























                        answered Dec 13 at 16:17









                        Aaron

                        15.2k11636




                        15.2k11636








                        • 1




                          You got the logic backwards, and I hate the third example, but +1 for actually using the operator built for this.
                          – Jacob Raihle
                          Dec 13 at 17:08






                        • 1




                          @JacobRaihle thanks, I fixed the backward logic. The quotes around "clever" for the third example are sarcasm quotes, I wouldn't recommend using it unless the only point is to play the smartass.
                          – Aaron
                          Dec 13 at 17:18














                        • 1




                          You got the logic backwards, and I hate the third example, but +1 for actually using the operator built for this.
                          – Jacob Raihle
                          Dec 13 at 17:08






                        • 1




                          @JacobRaihle thanks, I fixed the backward logic. The quotes around "clever" for the third example are sarcasm quotes, I wouldn't recommend using it unless the only point is to play the smartass.
                          – Aaron
                          Dec 13 at 17:18








                        1




                        1




                        You got the logic backwards, and I hate the third example, but +1 for actually using the operator built for this.
                        – Jacob Raihle
                        Dec 13 at 17:08




                        You got the logic backwards, and I hate the third example, but +1 for actually using the operator built for this.
                        – Jacob Raihle
                        Dec 13 at 17:08




                        1




                        1




                        @JacobRaihle thanks, I fixed the backward logic. The quotes around "clever" for the third example are sarcasm quotes, I wouldn't recommend using it unless the only point is to play the smartass.
                        – Aaron
                        Dec 13 at 17:18




                        @JacobRaihle thanks, I fixed the backward logic. The quotes around "clever" for the third example are sarcasm quotes, I wouldn't recommend using it unless the only point is to play the smartass.
                        – Aaron
                        Dec 13 at 17:18










                        up vote
                        3
                        down vote













                        Assuming inverse is a flag you'd set once, then you don't need to take it into account every time, you can calculate its impact once and just use it as it is, which will cut down your code branches and logic. If you want to change it as you go along, then you might need to separate the logic for the calculation, in order to re-use it.



                        You can also then extract the movement direction into a self-contained function and your handleDirection becomes very simple - you calculate the direction you want to go based on src and the invert.






                        let tracker = 0;

                        //extract logic for the movement offset based on direction
                        function getDirectionOffset(src) {
                        return src === 'left' ? 1 : -1;
                        }

                        //have a setter for the invert property
                        function setInverse(isInverse) {
                        movementModifier = isInverse ? -1 : 1
                        }

                        //declare the variable dependent on the inverse property
                        let movementModifier;

                        //initialise movementModifier variable
                        setInverse(false);

                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        const offset = getDirectionOffset(src) * movementModifier;

                        tracker += offset;
                        }


                        // usage
                        setInverse(true);

                        handleDirection("left");
                        handleDirection("left");
                        handleDirection("right");

                        console.log(tracker);





                        With that said, all this suggests you shouldn't be using a function, or you should be using it differently. You can collect all that functionality in a class or instead have all the information passed around functions, so you don't have globals. Here is a sample object oriented implementation of the concept:






                        class TrackerMover {
                        constructor(inverse) {
                        this.tracker = 0;
                        this.movementModifier = inverse ? 1 : -1
                        }

                        handleDirection(src) {
                        const offset = this.getDirectionOffset(src) * this.movementModifier;

                        this.tracker += offset;
                        }

                        getDirectionOffset(src) {
                        return src === 'left' ? -1 : 1;
                        }

                        getPosition() {
                        return this.tracker;
                        }
                        }


                        //usage
                        const mover = new TrackerMover(true);

                        mover.handleDirection("left");
                        mover.handleDirection("left");
                        mover.handleDirection("right");

                        console.log(mover.getPosition())





                        By the way, another alternative is to NOT compute the movement every time. You actually know what is happening every time - in effect, you have a truth table where your inputs are src === left and inverse and the outputs are how you modify your tracking.



                        +--------+------------+--------+
                        | isLeft | isInverted | Offset |
                        +--------+------------+--------+
                        | true | true | -1 |
                        | true | false | 1 |
                        | false | true | 1 |
                        | false | false | -1 |
                        +--------+------------+--------+


                        So, you can just put that table in.






                        let tracker = 0;
                        let invert = false;

                        const movementLookupTable = {
                        "true": { },
                        "false": { },
                        }

                        //it can be initialised as part of the above expression but this is more readable
                        movementLookupTable[true ][true ] = -1;
                        movementLookupTable[true ][false] = 1;
                        movementLookupTable[false][true ] = 1;
                        movementLookupTable[false][false] = -1;

                        function handleDirection(src) {
                        const offset = movementLookupTable[src === "left"][invert];

                        tracker += offset;
                        }


                        // usage
                        invert = true;

                        handleDirection("left");
                        handleDirection("left");
                        handleDirection("right");

                        console.log(tracker);





                        In this case it might be an overkill but this approach might be useful if there are more flags (including more values for the flags) and/or end states. For example, maybe you want to introduce four directions, but you don't modify the tracker value if it's up or down.



                        +-----------+------------+--------+
                        | direction | isInverted | Offset |
                        +-----------+------------+--------+
                        | left | true | -1 |
                        | left | false | 1 |
                        | right | true | 1 |
                        | right | false | -1 |
                        | up | false | 0 |
                        | up | true | 0 |
                        | down | false | 0 |
                        | down | true | 0 |
                        +-----------+------------+--------+


                        As you can see, now it's not just booleans, you can handle any value. Using a table, you also then change invert to be something like windDirection, so if the movement is left and the windDirection is right, the result is like what it is now, but you could have direction of left and wind going left, so you move further. Or you can move up and the wind direction is left so tracker (at this point the X coordinates) is going to actually be modified.



                        +-----------+---------------+---------+
                        | direction | windDirection | OffsetX |
                        +-----------+---------------+---------+
                        | left | right | -1 |
                        | left | up | 1 |
                        | left | down | 1 |
                        | left | left | 2 |
                        | right | up | -1 |
                        | right | down | -1 |
                        | right | right | -2 |
                        | right | left | 1 |
                        | up | up | 0 |
                        | up | down | 0 |
                        | up | left | 1 |
                        | up | right | -1 |
                        | down | up | 0 |
                        | down | down | 0 |
                        | down | left | 1 |
                        | down | right | -1 |
                        +-----------+---------------+---------+


                        With four directions and four wind directions to take into account the logic can be quite annoying to both read and maintain in the future, while if you only have a lookup table, it's easy and you can easily extend this to even handle diagonals (let's assume they change the value by 0.5 instead of 1) and your algorithm would not really care as long as you just fetch the values from the table.






                        share|improve this answer



























                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote













                          Assuming inverse is a flag you'd set once, then you don't need to take it into account every time, you can calculate its impact once and just use it as it is, which will cut down your code branches and logic. If you want to change it as you go along, then you might need to separate the logic for the calculation, in order to re-use it.



                          You can also then extract the movement direction into a self-contained function and your handleDirection becomes very simple - you calculate the direction you want to go based on src and the invert.






                          let tracker = 0;

                          //extract logic for the movement offset based on direction
                          function getDirectionOffset(src) {
                          return src === 'left' ? 1 : -1;
                          }

                          //have a setter for the invert property
                          function setInverse(isInverse) {
                          movementModifier = isInverse ? -1 : 1
                          }

                          //declare the variable dependent on the inverse property
                          let movementModifier;

                          //initialise movementModifier variable
                          setInverse(false);

                          function handleDirection(src) {
                          const offset = getDirectionOffset(src) * movementModifier;

                          tracker += offset;
                          }


                          // usage
                          setInverse(true);

                          handleDirection("left");
                          handleDirection("left");
                          handleDirection("right");

                          console.log(tracker);





                          With that said, all this suggests you shouldn't be using a function, or you should be using it differently. You can collect all that functionality in a class or instead have all the information passed around functions, so you don't have globals. Here is a sample object oriented implementation of the concept:






                          class TrackerMover {
                          constructor(inverse) {
                          this.tracker = 0;
                          this.movementModifier = inverse ? 1 : -1
                          }

                          handleDirection(src) {
                          const offset = this.getDirectionOffset(src) * this.movementModifier;

                          this.tracker += offset;
                          }

                          getDirectionOffset(src) {
                          return src === 'left' ? -1 : 1;
                          }

                          getPosition() {
                          return this.tracker;
                          }
                          }


                          //usage
                          const mover = new TrackerMover(true);

                          mover.handleDirection("left");
                          mover.handleDirection("left");
                          mover.handleDirection("right");

                          console.log(mover.getPosition())





                          By the way, another alternative is to NOT compute the movement every time. You actually know what is happening every time - in effect, you have a truth table where your inputs are src === left and inverse and the outputs are how you modify your tracking.



                          +--------+------------+--------+
                          | isLeft | isInverted | Offset |
                          +--------+------------+--------+
                          | true | true | -1 |
                          | true | false | 1 |
                          | false | true | 1 |
                          | false | false | -1 |
                          +--------+------------+--------+


                          So, you can just put that table in.






                          let tracker = 0;
                          let invert = false;

                          const movementLookupTable = {
                          "true": { },
                          "false": { },
                          }

                          //it can be initialised as part of the above expression but this is more readable
                          movementLookupTable[true ][true ] = -1;
                          movementLookupTable[true ][false] = 1;
                          movementLookupTable[false][true ] = 1;
                          movementLookupTable[false][false] = -1;

                          function handleDirection(src) {
                          const offset = movementLookupTable[src === "left"][invert];

                          tracker += offset;
                          }


                          // usage
                          invert = true;

                          handleDirection("left");
                          handleDirection("left");
                          handleDirection("right");

                          console.log(tracker);





                          In this case it might be an overkill but this approach might be useful if there are more flags (including more values for the flags) and/or end states. For example, maybe you want to introduce four directions, but you don't modify the tracker value if it's up or down.



                          +-----------+------------+--------+
                          | direction | isInverted | Offset |
                          +-----------+------------+--------+
                          | left | true | -1 |
                          | left | false | 1 |
                          | right | true | 1 |
                          | right | false | -1 |
                          | up | false | 0 |
                          | up | true | 0 |
                          | down | false | 0 |
                          | down | true | 0 |
                          +-----------+------------+--------+


                          As you can see, now it's not just booleans, you can handle any value. Using a table, you also then change invert to be something like windDirection, so if the movement is left and the windDirection is right, the result is like what it is now, but you could have direction of left and wind going left, so you move further. Or you can move up and the wind direction is left so tracker (at this point the X coordinates) is going to actually be modified.



                          +-----------+---------------+---------+
                          | direction | windDirection | OffsetX |
                          +-----------+---------------+---------+
                          | left | right | -1 |
                          | left | up | 1 |
                          | left | down | 1 |
                          | left | left | 2 |
                          | right | up | -1 |
                          | right | down | -1 |
                          | right | right | -2 |
                          | right | left | 1 |
                          | up | up | 0 |
                          | up | down | 0 |
                          | up | left | 1 |
                          | up | right | -1 |
                          | down | up | 0 |
                          | down | down | 0 |
                          | down | left | 1 |
                          | down | right | -1 |
                          +-----------+---------------+---------+


                          With four directions and four wind directions to take into account the logic can be quite annoying to both read and maintain in the future, while if you only have a lookup table, it's easy and you can easily extend this to even handle diagonals (let's assume they change the value by 0.5 instead of 1) and your algorithm would not really care as long as you just fetch the values from the table.






                          share|improve this answer

























                            up vote
                            3
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            3
                            down vote









                            Assuming inverse is a flag you'd set once, then you don't need to take it into account every time, you can calculate its impact once and just use it as it is, which will cut down your code branches and logic. If you want to change it as you go along, then you might need to separate the logic for the calculation, in order to re-use it.



                            You can also then extract the movement direction into a self-contained function and your handleDirection becomes very simple - you calculate the direction you want to go based on src and the invert.






                            let tracker = 0;

                            //extract logic for the movement offset based on direction
                            function getDirectionOffset(src) {
                            return src === 'left' ? 1 : -1;
                            }

                            //have a setter for the invert property
                            function setInverse(isInverse) {
                            movementModifier = isInverse ? -1 : 1
                            }

                            //declare the variable dependent on the inverse property
                            let movementModifier;

                            //initialise movementModifier variable
                            setInverse(false);

                            function handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = getDirectionOffset(src) * movementModifier;

                            tracker += offset;
                            }


                            // usage
                            setInverse(true);

                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(tracker);





                            With that said, all this suggests you shouldn't be using a function, or you should be using it differently. You can collect all that functionality in a class or instead have all the information passed around functions, so you don't have globals. Here is a sample object oriented implementation of the concept:






                            class TrackerMover {
                            constructor(inverse) {
                            this.tracker = 0;
                            this.movementModifier = inverse ? 1 : -1
                            }

                            handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = this.getDirectionOffset(src) * this.movementModifier;

                            this.tracker += offset;
                            }

                            getDirectionOffset(src) {
                            return src === 'left' ? -1 : 1;
                            }

                            getPosition() {
                            return this.tracker;
                            }
                            }


                            //usage
                            const mover = new TrackerMover(true);

                            mover.handleDirection("left");
                            mover.handleDirection("left");
                            mover.handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(mover.getPosition())





                            By the way, another alternative is to NOT compute the movement every time. You actually know what is happening every time - in effect, you have a truth table where your inputs are src === left and inverse and the outputs are how you modify your tracking.



                            +--------+------------+--------+
                            | isLeft | isInverted | Offset |
                            +--------+------------+--------+
                            | true | true | -1 |
                            | true | false | 1 |
                            | false | true | 1 |
                            | false | false | -1 |
                            +--------+------------+--------+


                            So, you can just put that table in.






                            let tracker = 0;
                            let invert = false;

                            const movementLookupTable = {
                            "true": { },
                            "false": { },
                            }

                            //it can be initialised as part of the above expression but this is more readable
                            movementLookupTable[true ][true ] = -1;
                            movementLookupTable[true ][false] = 1;
                            movementLookupTable[false][true ] = 1;
                            movementLookupTable[false][false] = -1;

                            function handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = movementLookupTable[src === "left"][invert];

                            tracker += offset;
                            }


                            // usage
                            invert = true;

                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(tracker);





                            In this case it might be an overkill but this approach might be useful if there are more flags (including more values for the flags) and/or end states. For example, maybe you want to introduce four directions, but you don't modify the tracker value if it's up or down.



                            +-----------+------------+--------+
                            | direction | isInverted | Offset |
                            +-----------+------------+--------+
                            | left | true | -1 |
                            | left | false | 1 |
                            | right | true | 1 |
                            | right | false | -1 |
                            | up | false | 0 |
                            | up | true | 0 |
                            | down | false | 0 |
                            | down | true | 0 |
                            +-----------+------------+--------+


                            As you can see, now it's not just booleans, you can handle any value. Using a table, you also then change invert to be something like windDirection, so if the movement is left and the windDirection is right, the result is like what it is now, but you could have direction of left and wind going left, so you move further. Or you can move up and the wind direction is left so tracker (at this point the X coordinates) is going to actually be modified.



                            +-----------+---------------+---------+
                            | direction | windDirection | OffsetX |
                            +-----------+---------------+---------+
                            | left | right | -1 |
                            | left | up | 1 |
                            | left | down | 1 |
                            | left | left | 2 |
                            | right | up | -1 |
                            | right | down | -1 |
                            | right | right | -2 |
                            | right | left | 1 |
                            | up | up | 0 |
                            | up | down | 0 |
                            | up | left | 1 |
                            | up | right | -1 |
                            | down | up | 0 |
                            | down | down | 0 |
                            | down | left | 1 |
                            | down | right | -1 |
                            +-----------+---------------+---------+


                            With four directions and four wind directions to take into account the logic can be quite annoying to both read and maintain in the future, while if you only have a lookup table, it's easy and you can easily extend this to even handle diagonals (let's assume they change the value by 0.5 instead of 1) and your algorithm would not really care as long as you just fetch the values from the table.






                            share|improve this answer














                            Assuming inverse is a flag you'd set once, then you don't need to take it into account every time, you can calculate its impact once and just use it as it is, which will cut down your code branches and logic. If you want to change it as you go along, then you might need to separate the logic for the calculation, in order to re-use it.



                            You can also then extract the movement direction into a self-contained function and your handleDirection becomes very simple - you calculate the direction you want to go based on src and the invert.






                            let tracker = 0;

                            //extract logic for the movement offset based on direction
                            function getDirectionOffset(src) {
                            return src === 'left' ? 1 : -1;
                            }

                            //have a setter for the invert property
                            function setInverse(isInverse) {
                            movementModifier = isInverse ? -1 : 1
                            }

                            //declare the variable dependent on the inverse property
                            let movementModifier;

                            //initialise movementModifier variable
                            setInverse(false);

                            function handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = getDirectionOffset(src) * movementModifier;

                            tracker += offset;
                            }


                            // usage
                            setInverse(true);

                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(tracker);





                            With that said, all this suggests you shouldn't be using a function, or you should be using it differently. You can collect all that functionality in a class or instead have all the information passed around functions, so you don't have globals. Here is a sample object oriented implementation of the concept:






                            class TrackerMover {
                            constructor(inverse) {
                            this.tracker = 0;
                            this.movementModifier = inverse ? 1 : -1
                            }

                            handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = this.getDirectionOffset(src) * this.movementModifier;

                            this.tracker += offset;
                            }

                            getDirectionOffset(src) {
                            return src === 'left' ? -1 : 1;
                            }

                            getPosition() {
                            return this.tracker;
                            }
                            }


                            //usage
                            const mover = new TrackerMover(true);

                            mover.handleDirection("left");
                            mover.handleDirection("left");
                            mover.handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(mover.getPosition())





                            By the way, another alternative is to NOT compute the movement every time. You actually know what is happening every time - in effect, you have a truth table where your inputs are src === left and inverse and the outputs are how you modify your tracking.



                            +--------+------------+--------+
                            | isLeft | isInverted | Offset |
                            +--------+------------+--------+
                            | true | true | -1 |
                            | true | false | 1 |
                            | false | true | 1 |
                            | false | false | -1 |
                            +--------+------------+--------+


                            So, you can just put that table in.






                            let tracker = 0;
                            let invert = false;

                            const movementLookupTable = {
                            "true": { },
                            "false": { },
                            }

                            //it can be initialised as part of the above expression but this is more readable
                            movementLookupTable[true ][true ] = -1;
                            movementLookupTable[true ][false] = 1;
                            movementLookupTable[false][true ] = 1;
                            movementLookupTable[false][false] = -1;

                            function handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = movementLookupTable[src === "left"][invert];

                            tracker += offset;
                            }


                            // usage
                            invert = true;

                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(tracker);





                            In this case it might be an overkill but this approach might be useful if there are more flags (including more values for the flags) and/or end states. For example, maybe you want to introduce four directions, but you don't modify the tracker value if it's up or down.



                            +-----------+------------+--------+
                            | direction | isInverted | Offset |
                            +-----------+------------+--------+
                            | left | true | -1 |
                            | left | false | 1 |
                            | right | true | 1 |
                            | right | false | -1 |
                            | up | false | 0 |
                            | up | true | 0 |
                            | down | false | 0 |
                            | down | true | 0 |
                            +-----------+------------+--------+


                            As you can see, now it's not just booleans, you can handle any value. Using a table, you also then change invert to be something like windDirection, so if the movement is left and the windDirection is right, the result is like what it is now, but you could have direction of left and wind going left, so you move further. Or you can move up and the wind direction is left so tracker (at this point the X coordinates) is going to actually be modified.



                            +-----------+---------------+---------+
                            | direction | windDirection | OffsetX |
                            +-----------+---------------+---------+
                            | left | right | -1 |
                            | left | up | 1 |
                            | left | down | 1 |
                            | left | left | 2 |
                            | right | up | -1 |
                            | right | down | -1 |
                            | right | right | -2 |
                            | right | left | 1 |
                            | up | up | 0 |
                            | up | down | 0 |
                            | up | left | 1 |
                            | up | right | -1 |
                            | down | up | 0 |
                            | down | down | 0 |
                            | down | left | 1 |
                            | down | right | -1 |
                            +-----------+---------------+---------+


                            With four directions and four wind directions to take into account the logic can be quite annoying to both read and maintain in the future, while if you only have a lookup table, it's easy and you can easily extend this to even handle diagonals (let's assume they change the value by 0.5 instead of 1) and your algorithm would not really care as long as you just fetch the values from the table.






                            let tracker = 0;

                            //extract logic for the movement offset based on direction
                            function getDirectionOffset(src) {
                            return src === 'left' ? 1 : -1;
                            }

                            //have a setter for the invert property
                            function setInverse(isInverse) {
                            movementModifier = isInverse ? -1 : 1
                            }

                            //declare the variable dependent on the inverse property
                            let movementModifier;

                            //initialise movementModifier variable
                            setInverse(false);

                            function handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = getDirectionOffset(src) * movementModifier;

                            tracker += offset;
                            }


                            // usage
                            setInverse(true);

                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(tracker);





                            let tracker = 0;

                            //extract logic for the movement offset based on direction
                            function getDirectionOffset(src) {
                            return src === 'left' ? 1 : -1;
                            }

                            //have a setter for the invert property
                            function setInverse(isInverse) {
                            movementModifier = isInverse ? -1 : 1
                            }

                            //declare the variable dependent on the inverse property
                            let movementModifier;

                            //initialise movementModifier variable
                            setInverse(false);

                            function handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = getDirectionOffset(src) * movementModifier;

                            tracker += offset;
                            }


                            // usage
                            setInverse(true);

                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(tracker);





                            class TrackerMover {
                            constructor(inverse) {
                            this.tracker = 0;
                            this.movementModifier = inverse ? 1 : -1
                            }

                            handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = this.getDirectionOffset(src) * this.movementModifier;

                            this.tracker += offset;
                            }

                            getDirectionOffset(src) {
                            return src === 'left' ? -1 : 1;
                            }

                            getPosition() {
                            return this.tracker;
                            }
                            }


                            //usage
                            const mover = new TrackerMover(true);

                            mover.handleDirection("left");
                            mover.handleDirection("left");
                            mover.handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(mover.getPosition())





                            class TrackerMover {
                            constructor(inverse) {
                            this.tracker = 0;
                            this.movementModifier = inverse ? 1 : -1
                            }

                            handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = this.getDirectionOffset(src) * this.movementModifier;

                            this.tracker += offset;
                            }

                            getDirectionOffset(src) {
                            return src === 'left' ? -1 : 1;
                            }

                            getPosition() {
                            return this.tracker;
                            }
                            }


                            //usage
                            const mover = new TrackerMover(true);

                            mover.handleDirection("left");
                            mover.handleDirection("left");
                            mover.handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(mover.getPosition())





                            let tracker = 0;
                            let invert = false;

                            const movementLookupTable = {
                            "true": { },
                            "false": { },
                            }

                            //it can be initialised as part of the above expression but this is more readable
                            movementLookupTable[true ][true ] = -1;
                            movementLookupTable[true ][false] = 1;
                            movementLookupTable[false][true ] = 1;
                            movementLookupTable[false][false] = -1;

                            function handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = movementLookupTable[src === "left"][invert];

                            tracker += offset;
                            }


                            // usage
                            invert = true;

                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(tracker);





                            let tracker = 0;
                            let invert = false;

                            const movementLookupTable = {
                            "true": { },
                            "false": { },
                            }

                            //it can be initialised as part of the above expression but this is more readable
                            movementLookupTable[true ][true ] = -1;
                            movementLookupTable[true ][false] = 1;
                            movementLookupTable[false][true ] = 1;
                            movementLookupTable[false][false] = -1;

                            function handleDirection(src) {
                            const offset = movementLookupTable[src === "left"][invert];

                            tracker += offset;
                            }


                            // usage
                            invert = true;

                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("left");
                            handleDirection("right");

                            console.log(tracker);






                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited Dec 13 at 13:20

























                            answered Dec 13 at 11:16









                            vlaz

                            4,03821930




                            4,03821930






















                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote













                                This has only one conditional, and I find it reads more intuitively than the other answers:



                                function handleDirection(src) {
                                if (
                                ((src === 'left') && !inverse) ||
                                ((src === 'right') && inverse)
                                ) {
                                tracker++;
                                }
                                else {
                                tracker--;
                                }
                                }





                                share|improve this answer

























                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote













                                  This has only one conditional, and I find it reads more intuitively than the other answers:



                                  function handleDirection(src) {
                                  if (
                                  ((src === 'left') && !inverse) ||
                                  ((src === 'right') && inverse)
                                  ) {
                                  tracker++;
                                  }
                                  else {
                                  tracker--;
                                  }
                                  }





                                  share|improve this answer























                                    up vote
                                    2
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    2
                                    down vote









                                    This has only one conditional, and I find it reads more intuitively than the other answers:



                                    function handleDirection(src) {
                                    if (
                                    ((src === 'left') && !inverse) ||
                                    ((src === 'right') && inverse)
                                    ) {
                                    tracker++;
                                    }
                                    else {
                                    tracker--;
                                    }
                                    }





                                    share|improve this answer












                                    This has only one conditional, and I find it reads more intuitively than the other answers:



                                    function handleDirection(src) {
                                    if (
                                    ((src === 'left') && !inverse) ||
                                    ((src === 'right') && inverse)
                                    ) {
                                    tracker++;
                                    }
                                    else {
                                    tracker--;
                                    }
                                    }






                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered Dec 13 at 16:06









                                    Paul S

                                    1577




                                    1577






















                                        up vote
                                        1
                                        down vote













                                        You can use short circuiting syntax or ternary operators



                                        // by using short circuiting
                                        function handleDirection(src) {
                                        if (src == 'left') tracker = inverse && tracker-1 || tracker +1
                                        else tracker = inverse && tracker+1 || tracker -1
                                        }
                                        // by using ternary operator
                                        function handleDirection(src) {
                                        if (src == 'left') tracker = inverse ? tracker-1 : tracker +1
                                        else tracker = inverse ? tracker+1 : tracker -1
                                        }





                                        share|improve this answer

























                                          up vote
                                          1
                                          down vote













                                          You can use short circuiting syntax or ternary operators



                                          // by using short circuiting
                                          function handleDirection(src) {
                                          if (src == 'left') tracker = inverse && tracker-1 || tracker +1
                                          else tracker = inverse && tracker+1 || tracker -1
                                          }
                                          // by using ternary operator
                                          function handleDirection(src) {
                                          if (src == 'left') tracker = inverse ? tracker-1 : tracker +1
                                          else tracker = inverse ? tracker+1 : tracker -1
                                          }





                                          share|improve this answer























                                            up vote
                                            1
                                            down vote










                                            up vote
                                            1
                                            down vote









                                            You can use short circuiting syntax or ternary operators



                                            // by using short circuiting
                                            function handleDirection(src) {
                                            if (src == 'left') tracker = inverse && tracker-1 || tracker +1
                                            else tracker = inverse && tracker+1 || tracker -1
                                            }
                                            // by using ternary operator
                                            function handleDirection(src) {
                                            if (src == 'left') tracker = inverse ? tracker-1 : tracker +1
                                            else tracker = inverse ? tracker+1 : tracker -1
                                            }





                                            share|improve this answer












                                            You can use short circuiting syntax or ternary operators



                                            // by using short circuiting
                                            function handleDirection(src) {
                                            if (src == 'left') tracker = inverse && tracker-1 || tracker +1
                                            else tracker = inverse && tracker+1 || tracker -1
                                            }
                                            // by using ternary operator
                                            function handleDirection(src) {
                                            if (src == 'left') tracker = inverse ? tracker-1 : tracker +1
                                            else tracker = inverse ? tracker+1 : tracker -1
                                            }






                                            share|improve this answer












                                            share|improve this answer



                                            share|improve this answer










                                            answered Dec 13 at 10:34









                                            Komal Bansal

                                            665




                                            665






















                                                up vote
                                                1
                                                down vote













                                                Not the shortest possible, but hopefully clear:



                                                const LEFT = 'left'
                                                const RIGHT = 'right'


                                                function handleMovement(src) {
                                                tracker += movementIncrement(src, inverse)
                                                }

                                                function movementIncrement(direction, inverse) {
                                                if (inverse) {
                                                direction = inverseDirection(direction)
                                                }
                                                return LEFT ? -1 : +1
                                                }

                                                function inverseDirection(direction) {
                                                return direction === LEFT ? RIGHT : LEFT
                                                }





                                                share|improve this answer

























                                                  up vote
                                                  1
                                                  down vote













                                                  Not the shortest possible, but hopefully clear:



                                                  const LEFT = 'left'
                                                  const RIGHT = 'right'


                                                  function handleMovement(src) {
                                                  tracker += movementIncrement(src, inverse)
                                                  }

                                                  function movementIncrement(direction, inverse) {
                                                  if (inverse) {
                                                  direction = inverseDirection(direction)
                                                  }
                                                  return LEFT ? -1 : +1
                                                  }

                                                  function inverseDirection(direction) {
                                                  return direction === LEFT ? RIGHT : LEFT
                                                  }





                                                  share|improve this answer























                                                    up vote
                                                    1
                                                    down vote










                                                    up vote
                                                    1
                                                    down vote









                                                    Not the shortest possible, but hopefully clear:



                                                    const LEFT = 'left'
                                                    const RIGHT = 'right'


                                                    function handleMovement(src) {
                                                    tracker += movementIncrement(src, inverse)
                                                    }

                                                    function movementIncrement(direction, inverse) {
                                                    if (inverse) {
                                                    direction = inverseDirection(direction)
                                                    }
                                                    return LEFT ? -1 : +1
                                                    }

                                                    function inverseDirection(direction) {
                                                    return direction === LEFT ? RIGHT : LEFT
                                                    }





                                                    share|improve this answer












                                                    Not the shortest possible, but hopefully clear:



                                                    const LEFT = 'left'
                                                    const RIGHT = 'right'


                                                    function handleMovement(src) {
                                                    tracker += movementIncrement(src, inverse)
                                                    }

                                                    function movementIncrement(direction, inverse) {
                                                    if (inverse) {
                                                    direction = inverseDirection(direction)
                                                    }
                                                    return LEFT ? -1 : +1
                                                    }

                                                    function inverseDirection(direction) {
                                                    return direction === LEFT ? RIGHT : LEFT
                                                    }






                                                    share|improve this answer












                                                    share|improve this answer



                                                    share|improve this answer










                                                    answered Dec 13 at 15:47









                                                    Anders

                                                    5,48463052




                                                    5,48463052






















                                                        up vote
                                                        1
                                                        down vote













                                                        I dislike elses and try to avoid nesting if possible. I think this conveys the idea of inverse in a more natural way:



                                                        function handleDirection(src) 
                                                        {
                                                        let change = 1;

                                                        if ('right' == src)
                                                        change = -1;

                                                        if (inverse)
                                                        change = -change;

                                                        tracker += change;
                                                        }





                                                        share|improve this answer

























                                                          up vote
                                                          1
                                                          down vote













                                                          I dislike elses and try to avoid nesting if possible. I think this conveys the idea of inverse in a more natural way:



                                                          function handleDirection(src) 
                                                          {
                                                          let change = 1;

                                                          if ('right' == src)
                                                          change = -1;

                                                          if (inverse)
                                                          change = -change;

                                                          tracker += change;
                                                          }





                                                          share|improve this answer























                                                            up vote
                                                            1
                                                            down vote










                                                            up vote
                                                            1
                                                            down vote









                                                            I dislike elses and try to avoid nesting if possible. I think this conveys the idea of inverse in a more natural way:



                                                            function handleDirection(src) 
                                                            {
                                                            let change = 1;

                                                            if ('right' == src)
                                                            change = -1;

                                                            if (inverse)
                                                            change = -change;

                                                            tracker += change;
                                                            }





                                                            share|improve this answer












                                                            I dislike elses and try to avoid nesting if possible. I think this conveys the idea of inverse in a more natural way:



                                                            function handleDirection(src) 
                                                            {
                                                            let change = 1;

                                                            if ('right' == src)
                                                            change = -1;

                                                            if (inverse)
                                                            change = -change;

                                                            tracker += change;
                                                            }






                                                            share|improve this answer












                                                            share|improve this answer



                                                            share|improve this answer










                                                            answered Dec 13 at 16:29









                                                            Džuris

                                                            351726




                                                            351726






















                                                                up vote
                                                                1
                                                                down vote













                                                                Right now you are comparing on strings, which I wouldn't advise. If for example you use 'Left' instead of 'left' it will fail the first if statement. Perhaps a boolean could be of use here, since you can guarantee it only has two states.



                                                                The if statements inside can be compressed via conditional operators.



                                                                Perhaps something like this is what you are looking for:



                                                                function handleDirection(src) {
                                                                if (src) {
                                                                inverse ? tracker-- : tracker++;
                                                                } else {
                                                                inverse ? tracker++ : tracker--;
                                                                }
                                                                }


                                                                See: https://jsfiddle.net/9zr4f3nv/






                                                                share|improve this answer



















                                                                • 3




                                                                  Your two branches of the if statement are identical: one of them needs to be reversed
                                                                  – Charlie Harding
                                                                  Dec 13 at 17:03










                                                                • Oopsie! You're right hehe. Corrected!
                                                                  – MagicLegend
                                                                  Dec 14 at 17:06















                                                                up vote
                                                                1
                                                                down vote













                                                                Right now you are comparing on strings, which I wouldn't advise. If for example you use 'Left' instead of 'left' it will fail the first if statement. Perhaps a boolean could be of use here, since you can guarantee it only has two states.



                                                                The if statements inside can be compressed via conditional operators.



                                                                Perhaps something like this is what you are looking for:



                                                                function handleDirection(src) {
                                                                if (src) {
                                                                inverse ? tracker-- : tracker++;
                                                                } else {
                                                                inverse ? tracker++ : tracker--;
                                                                }
                                                                }


                                                                See: https://jsfiddle.net/9zr4f3nv/






                                                                share|improve this answer



















                                                                • 3




                                                                  Your two branches of the if statement are identical: one of them needs to be reversed
                                                                  – Charlie Harding
                                                                  Dec 13 at 17:03










                                                                • Oopsie! You're right hehe. Corrected!
                                                                  – MagicLegend
                                                                  Dec 14 at 17:06













                                                                up vote
                                                                1
                                                                down vote










                                                                up vote
                                                                1
                                                                down vote









                                                                Right now you are comparing on strings, which I wouldn't advise. If for example you use 'Left' instead of 'left' it will fail the first if statement. Perhaps a boolean could be of use here, since you can guarantee it only has two states.



                                                                The if statements inside can be compressed via conditional operators.



                                                                Perhaps something like this is what you are looking for:



                                                                function handleDirection(src) {
                                                                if (src) {
                                                                inverse ? tracker-- : tracker++;
                                                                } else {
                                                                inverse ? tracker++ : tracker--;
                                                                }
                                                                }


                                                                See: https://jsfiddle.net/9zr4f3nv/






                                                                share|improve this answer














                                                                Right now you are comparing on strings, which I wouldn't advise. If for example you use 'Left' instead of 'left' it will fail the first if statement. Perhaps a boolean could be of use here, since you can guarantee it only has two states.



                                                                The if statements inside can be compressed via conditional operators.



                                                                Perhaps something like this is what you are looking for:



                                                                function handleDirection(src) {
                                                                if (src) {
                                                                inverse ? tracker-- : tracker++;
                                                                } else {
                                                                inverse ? tracker++ : tracker--;
                                                                }
                                                                }


                                                                See: https://jsfiddle.net/9zr4f3nv/







                                                                share|improve this answer














                                                                share|improve this answer



                                                                share|improve this answer








                                                                edited Dec 14 at 17:06

























                                                                answered Dec 13 at 10:32









                                                                MagicLegend

                                                                106112




                                                                106112








                                                                • 3




                                                                  Your two branches of the if statement are identical: one of them needs to be reversed
                                                                  – Charlie Harding
                                                                  Dec 13 at 17:03










                                                                • Oopsie! You're right hehe. Corrected!
                                                                  – MagicLegend
                                                                  Dec 14 at 17:06














                                                                • 3




                                                                  Your two branches of the if statement are identical: one of them needs to be reversed
                                                                  – Charlie Harding
                                                                  Dec 13 at 17:03










                                                                • Oopsie! You're right hehe. Corrected!
                                                                  – MagicLegend
                                                                  Dec 14 at 17:06








                                                                3




                                                                3




                                                                Your two branches of the if statement are identical: one of them needs to be reversed
                                                                – Charlie Harding
                                                                Dec 13 at 17:03




                                                                Your two branches of the if statement are identical: one of them needs to be reversed
                                                                – Charlie Harding
                                                                Dec 13 at 17:03












                                                                Oopsie! You're right hehe. Corrected!
                                                                – MagicLegend
                                                                Dec 14 at 17:06




                                                                Oopsie! You're right hehe. Corrected!
                                                                – MagicLegend
                                                                Dec 14 at 17:06










                                                                up vote
                                                                -1
                                                                down vote













                                                                You could use an 2 dimensional array type data structure from js and store the desired outcomes at index sec and inverse. Or JSON.






                                                                share|improve this answer

























                                                                  up vote
                                                                  -1
                                                                  down vote













                                                                  You could use an 2 dimensional array type data structure from js and store the desired outcomes at index sec and inverse. Or JSON.






                                                                  share|improve this answer























                                                                    up vote
                                                                    -1
                                                                    down vote










                                                                    up vote
                                                                    -1
                                                                    down vote









                                                                    You could use an 2 dimensional array type data structure from js and store the desired outcomes at index sec and inverse. Or JSON.






                                                                    share|improve this answer












                                                                    You could use an 2 dimensional array type data structure from js and store the desired outcomes at index sec and inverse. Or JSON.







                                                                    share|improve this answer












                                                                    share|improve this answer



                                                                    share|improve this answer










                                                                    answered Dec 13 at 16:58









                                                                    marshal craft

                                                                    308314




                                                                    308314















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