Explanation: it’s mostly due to how js does type conversion. for the Ls, it’s

[] is an empty array ![] is treated as false combining a boolean with the empty array returns “false” as a string (so true + [] = “true”, false + [] = “false”) ! + [] is treated as true ! + [] + ! + [] is treated as 2 since true + true = 1 + 1 = 2 so you have “false”[2], which is l for the o it’s [] is an empty array [] + {} returns “[object Object]” as a string ({} + [] returns 0) ![] is false !![] is true +!![] casts it to an integer so that part is “[object Object]”[1], which returns “o”

    • Deebster@lemmyrs.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      39
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      The line breaks haven’t worked, here’s it formatted correctly:

      Explanation: it’s mostly due to how js does type conversion.

      For the Ls, it’s:

      • [] is an empty array
      • ![] is treated as false
      • combining a boolean with the empty array returns “false” as a string (so true + [] = “true”, false + [] = “false”)
      • ! + [] is treated as true
      • ! + [] + ! + [] is treated as 2 since true + true = 1 + 1 = 2
      • so you have “false”[2], which is l

      for the o it’s:

      • [] is an empty array
      • [] + {} returns “[object Object]” as a string ({} + [] returns 0)
      • ![] is false
      • !![] is true
      • +!![] casts it to an integer
      • so that part is “[object Object]”[1], which returns “o”-
    • arandomthought@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      The idea behind it is not that complicated to explain… They set up a construct that spits out the word “false” and one that spits out “[object Object]”. Taking the character with the Index of 2 from “false” gives us the “l” (the “2” to use as the index is of course also created using only brackets and parentheses). The character with the index of 1 from “[object Object]” is “o”. So we have everything we need to spell out “lol”.

  • addie@feddit.uk
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    22
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    Javascript might be the most widely-used scripting language in use today, due to its browser dominance. Most popular would imply that it’s not completely despised by everyone that has to use it, which is misleading. Even TypeScript tutorials are about 50% ‘you have to understand what Javascript does wrong here’.

  • red@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    1 year ago

    “Today we’re going to write our first program, and all it will do is print ‘hello world!’”

    Everyone: oh, cool!

    JS learners: fml

  • ZodiacPi@programming.dev
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    For the lazy, but curious, of us…

    (! []+[]) [! + [
    ]+ !+[]]+([
    ]+{})[ + ! ! [ ]
    ]+( ! [ ]+[ ] ) [
    !+[]+ !+[]]
    
  • weird_nugget@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Good reminder that no matter how deep in your programming career you are, there will always be a JS snippet you won’t be able to understand.