What are default parameters?
Interviewer Expectations for this Question
01
Core Competency
Assesses fundamental understanding of JavaScript conventions, runtime behavior, and memory/performance considerations.
02
Evaluation Criteria
Hiring managers look for precision, avoidance of ambiguous jargon, and ability to explain trade-offs under real production conditions.
Comprehensive Model Answer
Verified Solution
In ES5, we need to depend on logical OR operators to handle default values of function parameters. Whereas in ES6, Default function parameters feature allows parameters to be initialized with default values if no value or undefined is passed. Let's compare the behavior with an examples,
//ES5
var calculateArea = function (height, width) {
height = height || 50;
width = width || 60;
return width * height;
};
console.log(calculateArea()); //300
The default parameters makes the initialization more simpler,
//ES6
var calculateArea = function (height = 50, width = 60) {
return width * height;
};
console.log(calculateArea()); //300
Candidate Response Strategy & Interview Tips
- Start with a concise one-sentence summary: Deliver a direct, confident answer first before expanding into nuances.
- Demonstrate real-world trade-offs: Discuss where this approach excels and when you would avoid it in production systems.
- Discuss complexity & edge cases: Proactively explain time/space complexity or boundary conditions (null values, scale limits).
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