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Comment by oxff | Hacker News Reader

Expressions `yield` values, statements don't yield values.

`square = square(4)` is a statement (a definition to be exact) that associates name `square` with the value `square(4)`.

The name `square` itself, when later used, is an expression, because when you call it, it evaluates to a value `square(4)`.

For example, you might have tried writing something like this:

  foo = if (x < y) {
    ...
    ...
  }

Doesn't work because statements don't yield values.

Thats one of the reason why I REALLY like languages where everything is an expression.

    let foo = 
        if x < y 
            somevalue
        else
            someothervalue

in f# for example.

I also love F#. One of the most interesting languages that I've ever seen.

This is certainly another great aspect of it.

So are ternaries expressions then too?

  const x = x < y ? 2 : 3;

Yes, indeed.