What does the exclamation mark do before the function?

Question

!function () {}();

Answer 1

! is a logical NOT operator, it's a boolean operator that will invert something to its opposite.

Although you can bypass the parentheses of the invoked function by using the BANG (!) before the function, it will still invert the return, which might not be what you wanted. As in the case of an IEFE, it would return undefined, which when inverted becomes the boolean true.

Instead, use the closing parenthesis and the BANG (!) if needed.

// I'm going to leave the closing () in all examples as invoking the function with just ! and () takes away from what's happening.

(function(){ return false; }());
=> false

!(function(){ return false; }());
=> true

!!(function(){ return false; }());
=> false

!!!(function(){ return false; }());
=> true

Other Operators that work...

+(function(){ return false; }());
=> 0

-(function(){ return false; }());
=> -0

~(function(){ return false; }());
=> -1

Combined Operators...

+!(function(){ return false; }());
=> 1

-!(function(){ return false; }());
=> -1

!+(function(){ return false; }());
=> true

!-(function(){ return false; }());
=> true

~!(function(){ return false; }());
=> -2

~!!(function(){ return false; }());
=> -1

+~(function(){ return false; }());
+> -1