i have code like this:

var db: name = dbFunction(true);

dbFunction returning Object.

I have question, what doing this colon operator in variable name?

i have code like this:

var db: name = dbFunction(true);

dbFunction returning Object.

I have question, what doing this colon operator in variable name?

• javascript
• operator-keyword

Share Improve this question Follow edited Nov 21, 2011 at 11:45 Matt 75.3k2626 gold badges156156 silver badges180180 bronze badges asked Nov 21, 2011 at 11:38 Marcin KarkochaMarcin Karkocha 4122 bronze badges 3

• It is causing a syntax error to be thrown. – Quentin Commented Nov 21, 2011 at 11:41
• 1 I have code created by IBM and i dont think it's syntax error – Marcin Karkocha Commented Nov 21, 2011 at 12:20
• I've inherited some working code with something similar const store: Object = configureStore(), and am similarly confused. – mstringer Commented Feb 13, 2017 at 22:02

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3 Answers 3

Sorted by: Reset to default 5

It's a high tech operator that guarantees a syntax error when used like that.

In it's normal use, you might see it used in object literal syntax to denote key:value pairs;

var object = {
    "name": "value",
    "name2": "value2"
}

It can also be used to define a label (less mon).

loop1:  
for (var i=0;i<10; i++) {
   for (var j=0;j<10;j++) {
      break loop1; // breaks out the outer loop
   }  
}   

And it's part of the ternary operator;

var something = conditional ? valueIfTrue : valueIfFalse;

The colon has several uses in JavaScript.

1. It's used to separate keys from values in the JSON notation.

var db = {
    name: dbFunction(name)
};

2. It's the ternary operator:

var db = (1 == 1 ? true : false);

3. Labels aka GOTO. Stay away from them.

It is also used in switch cases:

switch(product) {
    case "apple":
        return "Yum";
        break;
    case "orange":
        return "juicy!";
        break;
    case "milk":
        return "cold!";
        break;
}