What Does an Underscore Prefix Mean in JavaScript Property and Method Names?

The Significance of the Underscore Prefix in JavaScript's Property and Method Names

In contrast to Python's private class methods identified by an underscore prefix, JavaScript does not enforce such a distinction. The underscore prefix in JavaScript is a mere convention, without any inherent semantics.

This leaves developers with the responsibility of maintaining this naming convention to indicate non-public members. As observed in the example JavaScript function, private methods such as _init are prefixed with an underscore. Similarly, variables intended for internal use, like this._currentApp, adopt this convention.

While this convention offers no guarantee of encapsulation, its use serves as an indicator of the property or method's intended scope and discourages its direct access. By adhering to this convention, programmers can foster more self-explanatory and maintainable codebases, highlighting the distinction between public and internal elements.

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