T
ternjs/tern
Tern
Tern is an editor-independent code analyzer and static analysis engine for JavaScript. It functions as a language server that provides semantic intelligence by parsing source code into abstract syntax trees to infer types and resolve symbols without requiring manual type annotations.
The engine distinguishes itself through the use of JSON-based type definitions, which allow it to describe library signatures and external dependencies without needing the original source code. It also features a plugin system that enables the extension of server functionality to support custom loaders or frameworks.
The project covers broad capability areas including code navigation, refactoring, and editor autocompletion. It provides services such as locating symbol definitions, finding code references, and offering function argument hints and completions based on inferred expression types.
Features
- Language Intelligence Services - Provides deep semantic analysis of JavaScript code to enable advanced navigation and understanding in editors.
- JSON Library Type Definitions - Utilizes JSON-based type definitions to describe library signatures and external dependencies without needing original source code.
- Semantic Code Analyzers - Performs semantic analysis to resolve symbols and find definitions and references within JavaScript code.
- Code Completion - Recommends variables and keywords at the cursor based on inferred types and documentation metadata.
- Editor Code Navigation - Provides essential capabilities for jumping to definitions, finding references, and renaming symbols across files.
- JavaScript Language Servers - Implements a backend language server that provides completion, symbol resolution, and refactoring for JavaScript.
- Language Server Implementations - Functions as an editor-independent analysis engine providing language intelligence services via a common interface.
- Custom Type Definitions - Uses JSON-based signatures to describe external library types when the original source code is unavailable.
- JavaScript Static Analysis - Analyzes JavaScript source code without execution to infer variable types and ensure project consistency.
- JavaScript Static Analyzers - Functions as a static analysis engine that parses JavaScript into abstract syntax trees to provide semantic intelligence.
- Static Type Inference - Determines data types by analyzing variable and property contexts without requiring manual type annotations.
- Symbol Definition Resolution - Locates the original declaration of a variable, function, or class by analyzing semantic information.
- Static Source Code Type Inference - Implements a core engine that infers JavaScript types by analyzing the abstract syntax tree of source code.
- Symbol Resolution - Provides a mechanism to map identifiers to their original declarations by analyzing semantic and type information.
- Expression Type Resolution - Determines the expected data types of expressions during the static analysis phase.
- Code Autocomplete Engines - Provides context-aware code completions for symbols and properties as the user types.
- Code Refactoring Tools - Provides capabilities to rename symbols and restructure code while maintaining logical consistency.
- Code Reference Locators - Implements the ability to search the syntax tree and locate every occurrence of a specific variable or property.
- External Dependency Resolvers - Locates and prepares external code dependencies using standard resolution strategies.
- JavaScript Symbol Resolvers - Provides the capability to locate variable definitions and find all references to specific symbols across a project.
- Type Determination - Retrieves the resulting data type of specific code expressions without executing the code.
- Expression Type Inspectors - Inspects and reports the static type of specific code expressions to assist with debugging.
- Function Argument Hints - Displays expected parameter types and descriptions when a function is invoked to ensure correct usage.
- Module Path Resolution - Implements rules for locating external code dependencies using industry-standard path and naming patterns.
- Parameter Usage Hints - Displays expected arguments for functions to help users call them with the correct parameters.
- User-Defined Types - Allows specifying function signatures and types via a structured format to describe external libraries.
- Automatic Variable Type Inference - Identifies the inferred type of specific expressions to ensure data consistency and correctness.
- Sponsored Projects - Funded through a community-driven crowdfunding campaign.
- Sustainable Project Examples - Releases language expansion packs via crowdfunded campaigns.
Star history
How this analysis was created: This summary and feature list were written by an AI model that read the project's README and public documentation pages. Each feature links to the documentation it came from; stars, license and language come straight from the GitHub API. The model does not read the source code, and the analysis is refreshed when the project is re-analysed. Learn more on our About page.
