How to Format JavaScript Code from Command Line (JSBeautifier)

You can use jsbeautifier library to format your JavaScript code from the command line.

Quick Guide

To use this library, install it first by running the following command in the command-line window.

$ pip install jsbeautifier

This assumes you have pip installed.

Then use it on a JavaScript file by calling (assuming the file is in the same folder as your command line window)

$ js-beautify file_name.js

Notice that this will not make the changes. It only shows what would change.

To actually make the changes, run this command:

$ js-beautify -r file_name.js

Now you can inspect your JavaScript file to see that its formatting has changed to follow the best practices.

What Is JSBeautifier Library?

JSBeautifier is an open-source library that helps to beautify and format JavaScript, HTML, and CSS code. It takes code that is difficult to read and understand and reformats it to make it more readable and aesthetically pleasing.

JSBeautifier can be used in various contexts, including web development, code review, and code analysis. It can help to make code easier to read and understand, which can improve the efficiency of code maintenance and debugging.

The library is available in different programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, PHP, and Ruby. It supports various options for customizing the formatting of the code, such as indentation, braces, and semicolons.

JSBeautifier can be used either as a standalone tool or integrated into an IDE or code editor as a plugin. Overall, it is a useful tool for developers who want to ensure that their code is consistent, readable, and easy to maintain.

Other Ways to Install JSBeautifier

There are several ways to install JSBeautifier depending on your specific needs and environment. Here are some of the most common methods:

Installing via npm: If you are using Node.js or another package manager that supports npm, you can install JSBeautifier by running the following command in your terminal:

npm install js-beautify

Installing via Yarn: If you prefer to use Yarn as your package manager, you can install JSBeautifier by running the following command in your terminal

yarn add js-beautify

Using a CDN: You can also use a content delivery network (CDN) to include JSBeautifier in your web pages. Simply add the following script tag to your HTML file:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/js-beautify/js/lib/beautify.js"></script>

If you prefer to download the library manually, you can get the latest version from the JSBeautifier GitHub repository (https://github.com/beautify-web/js-beautify)

Once downloaded, include the beautify.js or beautify.min.js file in your HTML or JavaScript file using a script tag.

Thanks for reading. I hope you find it useful.