keywords considered harmful

# P T Withington (18 years ago)

We have an awful lot of keywords. Has any thought been given to not
reserving them outright?

A user today complained that they cannot have a property 'static'.
(I suggested they change it to 'notdynamic'. :P)

But static is really only used as an adjective in a couple of places
in the language. So why do we have to ban it completely as an
identifier?

What am I missing?

We have an awful lot of keywords.  Has any thought been given to not  
reserving them outright?

A user today complained that they cannot have a property 'static'.   
(I suggested they change it to 'notdynamic'.  :P)

But static is really only used as an adjective in a couple of places  
in the language.  So why do we have to ban it completely as an  
identifier?

What am I missing?

# Francis Cheng (18 years ago)

There are two categories of reserved words: ReservedIdentifiers and ContextuallyReservedIdentifiers. The former are completely reserved, whereas the latter are reserved in specific contexts but are otherwise not reserved.

For example, 'static' is a contextually reserved word, so you should be able to use it as a property name.

See the complete list here: developer.mozilla.org/es4/proposals/reserved_words.html

Actually, that list, which has about 49 ReservedIdentifiers and 15 ContextuallyReservedIdentifiers, is a little outdated. Currently the ReservedIdentifiers number in the low 30s and the ContextuallyReservedIdentifiers number in the mid 40s.

Francis

There are two categories of reserved words: ReservedIdentifiers and
ContextuallyReservedIdentifiers. The former are completely reserved,
whereas the latter are reserved in specific contexts but are otherwise
not reserved.

For example, 'static' is a contextually reserved word, so you should be
able to use it as a property name.

See the complete list here:
http://developer.mozilla.org/es4/proposals/reserved_words.html

Actually, that list, which has about 49 ReservedIdentifiers and 15
ContextuallyReservedIdentifiers, is a little outdated. Currently the
ReservedIdentifiers number in the low 30s and the
ContextuallyReservedIdentifiers number in the mid 40s.


Francis

-----Original Message-----
From: es4-discuss-bounces at mozilla.org
[mailto:es4-discuss-bounces at mozilla.org] On Behalf Of P T Withington
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 10:30 AM
To: es4-discuss
Subject: keywords considered harmful

We have an awful lot of keywords.  Has any thought been given to not  
reserving them outright?

A user today complained that they cannot have a property 'static'.   
(I suggested they change it to 'notdynamic'.  :P)

But static is really only used as an adjective in a couple of places  
in the language.  So why do we have to ban it completely as an  
identifier?

What am I missing?
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