require constructor names to begin with a capital letter (new-cap)

The new operator in JavaScript creates a new instance of a particular type of object. That type of object is represented by a constructor function. Since constructor functions are just regular functions, the only defining characteristic is that new is being used as part of the call. Native JavaScript functions begin with an uppercase letter to distinguish those functions that are to be used as constructors from functions that are not. Many style guides recommend following this pattern to more easily determine which functions are to be used as constructors.

var friend = new Person();

Rule Details

This rule requires constructor names to begin with a capital letter. Certain built-in identifiers are exempt from this rule. These identifiers are:

• Array
• Boolean
• Date
• Error
• Function
• Number
• Object
• RegExp
• String
• Symbol

Examples of correct code for this rule:

/*eslint new-cap: "error"*/

function foo(arg) {
    return Boolean(arg);
}

Options

This rule has an object option:

• "newIsCap": true (default) requires all new operators to be called with uppercase-started functions.
• "newIsCap": false allows new operators to be called with lowercase-started or uppercase-started functions.
• "capIsNew": true (default) requires all uppercase-started functions to be called with new operators.
• "capIsNew": false allows uppercase-started functions to be called without new operators.
• "newIsCapExceptions" allows specified lowercase-started function names to be called with the new operator.
• "newIsCapExceptionPattern" allows any lowercase-started function names that match the specified regex pattern to be called with the new operator.
• "capIsNewExceptions" allows specified uppercase-started function names to be called without the new operator.
• "capIsNewExceptionPattern" allows any uppercase-started function names that match the specified regex pattern to be called without the new operator.
• "properties": true (default) enables checks on object properties
• "properties": false disables checks on object properties

newIsCap

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the default { "newIsCap": true } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "newIsCap": true }]*/

var friend = new person();

Examples of correct code for this rule with the default { "newIsCap": true } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "newIsCap": true }]*/

var friend = new Person();

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "newIsCap": false } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "newIsCap": false }]*/

var friend = new person();

capIsNew

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the default { "capIsNew": true } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "capIsNew": true }]*/

var colleague = Person();

Examples of correct code for this rule with the default { "capIsNew": true } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "capIsNew": true }]*/

var colleague = new Person();

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "capIsNew": false } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "capIsNew": false }]*/

var colleague = Person();

newIsCapExceptions

Examples of additional correct code for this rule with the { "newIsCapExceptions": ["events"] } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "newIsCapExceptions": ["events"] }]*/

var events = require('events');

var emitter = new events();

newIsCapExceptionPattern

Examples of additional correct code for this rule with the { "newIsCapExceptionPattern": "^person\.." } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "newIsCapExceptionPattern": "^person\.." }]*/

var friend = new person.acquaintance();
var bestFriend = new person.friend();

capIsNewExceptions

Examples of additional correct code for this rule with the { "capIsNewExceptions": ["Person"] } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "capIsNewExceptions": ["Person"] }]*/

function foo(arg) {
    return Person(arg);
}

capIsNewExceptionPattern

Examples of additional correct code for this rule with the { "capIsNewExceptionPattern": "^Person\.." } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "capIsNewExceptionPattern": "^Person\.." }]*/

var friend = person.Acquaintance();
var bestFriend = person.Friend();

properties

Examples of incorrect code for this rule with the default { "properties": true } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "properties": true }]*/

var friend = new person.acquaintance();

Examples of correct code for this rule with the default { "properties": true } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "properties": true }]*/

var friend = new person.Acquaintance();

Examples of correct code for this rule with the { "properties": false } option:

/*eslint new-cap: ["error", { "properties": false }]*/

var friend = new person.acquaintance();

When Not To Use It

If you have conventions that don’t require an uppercase letter for constructors, or don’t require capitalized functions be only used as constructors, turn this rule off.

Version

This rule was introduced in ESLint 0.0.3-0.

Resources

• Rule source
• Documentation source