What does "default" mean in programming?
default is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
A keyword with two main uses: in a switch statement it defines the branch that runs when no case matches; in ES modules it marks the default export of a file.
Example
"switch (role) { case 'admin': return true; default: return false; }"
Related terms
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