Destructuring: meaning, definitions and examples
🛠️
destructuring
[ dɪˈstrʌk.tʃɚ.ɪŋ ]
programming concept
Destructuring is a special syntax that allows unpacking values from arrays or properties from objects into distinct variables. It simplifies the process of extracting data from complex structures, making code more readable and concise.
Synonyms
decomposition, disassembly, unpacking
Examples of usage
- const [a, b] = [1, 2];
- const { x, y } = obj;
- let [first, ...rest] = [1, 2, 3, 4];
Etymology
The term 'destructuring' originates from the programming community, particularly in relation to languages like JavaScript that support this syntax. The concept itself is rooted in functional programming principles, where the manipulation of data structures plays a critical role. The word is a combination of 'deconstruction', which refers to breaking down concepts into smaller components, and 'structure', indicating the organized arrangement of data elements. It gained popularity in the early 2010s alongside modern JavaScript features introduced with ES6, which significantly enhanced the language's ability to handle complex data structures efficiently.