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JavaScript: The Definitive Guide

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2.3 Optional Semicolons

Simple statements in JavaScript are generally followed by a semicolon character, just as they are in C, C++, and Java. This serves to separate them from the following statement. In JavaScript, however, you are allowed to omit this semicolon if your statements are each placed on a separate line. For example, the following code could be written without semicolons:

a = 3;
b = 4;

But when formatted as follows, the semicolons are required:

a = 3; b = 4;

Omitting semicolons is not a good programming practice; you should get in the habit of using them.


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