---
title: prefer-destructuring - Rules
layout: doc
edit_link: https://github.com/eslint/eslint/edit/master/docs/rules/prefer-destructuring.md
rule_type: suggestion
---
<!-- Note: No pull requests accepted for this file. See README.md in the root directory for details. -->

# Prefer destructuring from arrays and objects (prefer-destructuring)

(fixable) The `--fix` option on the [command line](../user-guide/command-line-interface#fixing-problems) can automatically fix some of the problems reported by this rule.

With JavaScript ES6, a new syntax was added for creating variables from an array index or object property, called [destructuring](#further-reading).  This rule enforces usage of destructuring instead of accessing a property through a member expression.

## Rule Details

### Options

This rule takes two sets of configuration objects. The first object parameter determines what types of destructuring the rule applies to.

The two properties, `array` and `object`, can be used to turn on or off the destructuring requirement for each of those types independently. By default, both are true.

Alternatively, you can use separate configurations for different assignment types. It accepts 2 other keys instead of `array` and `object`.

One key is `VariableDeclarator` and the other is `AssignmentExpression`, which can be used to control the destructuring requirement for each of those types independently. Each property accepts an object that accepts two properties, `array` and `object`, which can be used to control the destructuring requirement for each of `array` and `object` independently for variable declarations and assignment expressions.  By default, `array` and `object` are set to true for both `VariableDeclarator` and `AssignmentExpression`.

The rule has a second object with a single key, `enforceForRenamedProperties`, which determines whether the `object` destructuring applies to renamed variables.

**Note**: It is not possible to determine if a variable will be referring to an object or an array at runtime. This rule therefore guesses the assignment type by checking whether the key being accessed is an integer. This can lead to the following possibly confusing situations:

- Accessing an object property whose key is an integer will fall under the category `array` destructuring.
- Accessing an array element through a computed index will fall under the category `object` destructuring.

Examples of **incorrect** code for this rule:

```javascript
// With `array` enabled
var foo = array[0];

// With `object` enabled
var foo = object.foo;
var foo = object['foo'];
```

Examples of **correct** code for this rule:

```javascript
// With `array` enabled
var [ foo ] = array;
var foo = array[someIndex];

// With `object` enabled
var { foo } = object;

var foo = object.bar;

let foo;
({ foo } = object);
```

Examples of **incorrect** code when `enforceForRenamedProperties` is enabled:

```javascript
var foo = object.bar;
```

Examples of **correct** code when `enforceForRenamedProperties` is enabled:

```javascript
var { bar: foo } = object;
```

An example configuration, with the defaults `array` and `object` filled in, looks like this:

```json
{
  "rules": {
    "prefer-destructuring": ["error", {
      "array": true,
      "object": true
    }, {
      "enforceForRenamedProperties": false
    }]
  }
}
```

The two properties, `array` and `object`, which can be used to turn on or off the destructuring requirement for each of those types independently. By default, both are true.

For example, the following configuration enforces only object destructuring, but not array destructuring:

```json
{
  "rules": {
    "prefer-destructuring": ["error", {"object": true, "array": false}]
  }
}
```

An example configuration, with the defaults `VariableDeclarator` and `AssignmentExpression` filled in, looks like this:

```json
{
  "rules": {
    "prefer-destructuring": ["error", {
      "VariableDeclarator": {
        "array": false,
        "object": true
      },
      "AssignmentExpression": {
        "array": true,
        "object": true
      }
    }, {
      "enforceForRenamedProperties": false
    }]
  }
}
```

The two properties, `VariableDeclarator` and `AssignmentExpression`, which can be used to turn on or off the destructuring requirement for `array` and `object`. By default, all values are true.

For example, the following configuration enforces object destructuring in variable declarations and enforces array destructuring in assignment expressions.

```json
{
  "rules": {
    "prefer-destructuring": ["error", {
      "VariableDeclarator": {
        "array": false,
        "object": true
      },
      "AssignmentExpression": {
        "array": true,
        "object": false
      }
    }, {
      "enforceForRenamedProperties": false
    }]
  }
}

```

Examples of **correct** code when object destructuring in `VariableDeclarator` is enforced:

```javascript
/* eslint prefer-destructuring: ["error", {VariableDeclarator: {object: true}}] */
var {bar: foo} = object;
```

Examples of **correct** code when array destructuring in `AssignmentExpression` is enforced:

```javascript
/* eslint prefer-destructuring: ["error", {AssignmentExpression: {array: true}}] */
[bar] = array;
```

## When Not To Use It

If you want to be able to access array indices or object properties directly, you can either configure the rule to your tastes or disable the rule entirely.

Additionally, if you intend to access large array indices directly, like:

```javascript
var foo = array[100];
```

Then the `array` part of this rule is not recommended, as destructuring does not match this use case very well.

Or for non-iterable 'array-like' objects:

```javascript
var $ = require('jquery');
var foo = $('body')[0];
var [bar] = $('body'); // fails with a TypeError
```


## Further Reading

If you want to learn more about destructuring, check out the links below:

- [Destructuring Assignment (MDN)](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/Destructuring_assignment)
- [Destructuring and parameter handling in ECMAScript 6 (2ality blog)](http://2ality.com/2015/01/es6-destructuring.html)

## Version

This rule was introduced in ESLint 3.13.0.

## Resources

* [Rule source](https://github.com/eslint/eslint/tree/master/lib/rules/prefer-destructuring.js)
* [Documentation source](https://github.com/eslint/eslint/tree/master/docs/rules/prefer-destructuring.md)
