[removed] Why does this return statement cause a syntax error?

Question

I\'m using Apatana 3, i modified the JS code formatter a little bit to let it seem more clear, below is the code after format, it give me an error:

    copyO         


        

Answer 1

Haha, this is a classical one;)

Javasript breaks on

return
{

because it treats { as a new block and implicitely inserts a semicolon:

return;
{

thus returning undefined:-D

The Problem is Javasript inserting a Semicolon at the end of a line when the statement makes sense. Since return can stand on it's own, Javascript interprets it as a complete statement and inserts the semicolon, thus breaking your code.

Actually, this is the reason, why in Javascript you alway should avoid those newlines and write:

copyOffset : function( index ){
    return{
        x : index, y : index
    };
}