JavaScript is a coding language that most programmers are prominently acquainted with due to its widespread use and utility. Remarkably, in 2023, a whopping 98.2% of global websites leverage JavaScript in the creation of their web pages. This unequivocal dominance solidifies JavaScript’s enduring role in the digital realm. Nonetheless, the prevalence of JavaScript doesn’t mean it’s immune to errors, which is precisely where the crucial practice of Debugging becomes indispensable.

What is JavaScript Debugging?

JavaScript debugging refers to the process of scrutinising the JavaScript Code in order to identify and eliminate issues like syntax errors, logical flaws, style errors, and so on. Needless to say, debugging forms an integral part of coding in JavaScript and helps prevent unnecessary flaws. The following steps are involved in debugging JavaScript:

1. Identifying the bug
2. Isolating the portion of code that contains the error
3. Identifying the cause behind the error
4. Fixing the issue and re-running the code

Importance of Debugging JavaScript

Debugging JavaScript has several benefits, such as:

• Improved Security: Debugging can be used to locate and rectify security issues in a program’s JavaScipt code. This can help prevent hacking efforts and, thus, improve security. 
• Guaranteed Error-Free Program: Needless to say, if done correctly, debugging can guarantee an error-free program that has top-notch performance. 
• Resource Optimisation: Once a code has been deployed, it can become very difficult to isolate errors and fix them. Hence, it would require more time and money to fix. On the contrary, if debugging practices are followed before deploying a code, programmers can expect to save a lot more resources. 
• Client Satisfaction: If you are developing a website for a client, your chances of impressing the said client increase drastically when you debug your code beforehand to ensure the program’s smooth running. 

Best Techniques to Debug JavaScript

Programmers use a variety of different techniques to debug their JavaScript codes. The best and most reliable techniques are discussed here:

• Breakpoints

Breakpoints are a helpful debugging technique that lets users pause their code execution at a specific code line and inspect the state of the program. Overall, breakpoints are key to understanding the overall functionality of a code. 

It is quite easy to set up breakpoints as well and can be done using a browser’s developer tools. Additionally, programmers can also set up conditional breakpoints, wherein code execution is paused only when certain conditions are met. 

• Call Stack

Call stack allows programmers to access the sequence of function calls that resulted in the current point of code execution. This debugging option can be easily found in the “Sources” tab of any browser’s developer tools. With Call Stack, you can easily navigate to different sections of your extensive code and inspect the necessary variables. 

• Watch Expressions

As the name suggests, Watch Expressions allows users to track specific variables and expressions as a code is executed. With Watch Expressions, developers can monitor the change in their watched expressions in real time. 

• Performance Profiling

This technique is used to identify bottlenecks in the code and optimise them in order to improve the performance of the program. Performance profiling involves recording your program’s responses to normal interactions. Once you stop recording, the Performance panel will display valuable information such as time spent in rendering, JavaScript, and so on. Subsequently, you can use that information to further improve your program. 

• Remote Debugging

With remote debugging, you will be able to debug your JavaScript code while it is running on remote devices, such as mobile phones. Remote debugging helps in cross-platform collaborations and eliminates difficulties in debugging execution. 

Best Tools to Debug JavaScript

Now that we have addressed the best techniques to debug JavaScript let us look into the best tools to accomplish it!

• Airbrake

This is a continuous monitoring debugger that provides constant and real-time bug updates to programmers. Airbrake is a lightweight tool that is easy to install and has options for 24/7 monitoring of tech stacks. Furthermore, this tool can also be used to carry out performance analysis and reporting. 

• JS Bin

JS Bin is the perfect debugging tool for small-scale JavaScript projects. This is an open-source tool that is free to use and promotes a collaborative environment for developers to fix code-related issues. Furthermore, it also has advanced features that can help upgrade your existing JavaScript codes. Additionally, you can use this tool to debug CSS and HTML codes as well. 

• Raygun

Raygun is a cloud-based debugging tool that encompasses performance monitoring capabilities. Moreover, it proves invaluable for pinpointing end-user issues and aggregating user feedback. Consequently, Raygun emerges as the optimal choice for real-time website performance monitoring and enhancement.

• Firefox JavaScript Debugger

The Firefox JavaScript debugger is a popular debugging tool that allows programmers to test their code on the Firefox browser. Additionally, it also allows setting breakpoints in order to handle code errors more efficiently. Users have the option to assess responsiveness, performance, and layout concerns with ease. 

• ESLint

If you need a tool to check and fix issues in your static code, consider using ESLint! It’s a great option that allows programmers to handle various problems like quality, syntax errors, and typos, making it a valuable addition to your coding tools. ESLint also offers flexibility, making it easy to adjust code styles and make improvements as needed.

Conclusion

To conclude, JavaScript is one of the most reliable coding languages used widely to create a diverse variety of websites and applications. Hence, debugging JavaScript is a skill worth learning in order to improve one’s chances of cracking this field. However, to understand debugging, you must first have a clear understanding of JavaScript itself. 

This is where Eduonix’s Modern JavaScript Masterclass bundle comes in. Comprising of 9 courses and over 537 lectures, this bundle is the perfect course for beginners to understand all the essential information about JavaScript. Furthermore, the course provides the right guidance to execute your own JavaScript project. Thus, you will be able to get hands-on experience as well. So, enrol today!

The post Advanced JavaScript Debugging Techniques and Tools appeared first on Web Development & Technology Resources.