This file describes notable changes in each version of JSDoc 3. To download a specific version of JSDoc 3, see [GitHub's tags page](https://github.com/jsdoc3/jsdoc/tags).
**Note**: This draft changelog is current through January 21, 2015, and is subject to change before JSDoc 3.3.0 is released.
### Major changes
+ You can now run JSDoc on Node.js. (#93)
+ You can now use the `@interface` and `@implements` tags to document interfaces and their implementations. (#720, #828)
+ Closure Compiler's `@inheritDoc` and `@override` tags are now supported. (#53)
+ If the JSDoc comment for a symbol includes the `@mixes` tag, all of the mixins now appear in the symbol's documentation. (#378)
+ JSDoc can now log information to the console as it runs (for example, the name of each file that JSDoc parses). To log this information, run JSDoc with the `--verbose` flag. (#416)
+ You can now use any file as the package or README file for your documentation. Use the `-P/--package/` and `-R/--readme` flags to specify the package and README file. (#708)
+ The default template's typography and color scheme have been significantly improved. (#550, #780, #843)
### Enhancements
+ You can now use the `--pedantic` flag to treat all errors as fatal errors, and to treat warnings as errors. This flag replaces the `--lenient` flag, which had roughly the opposite meaning and is no longer available. (#416)
+ You can now use the `-a/--access` flag to control whether private, protected, and public symbols appear in the documentation. (#860, #861)
+ You can now use the `--debug` flag to log detailed debugging information to the console. This information can help you diagnose bugs in JSDoc itself. (#416)
+ JSDoc's configuration file can now contain JavaScript comments. (#660)
+ You can now include source files from a directory, but exclude one of its subdirectories, by adding the subdirectory to the `source.exclude` option in the configuration file. (#484)
+ The `source.exclude` option now works correctly when JSDoc is run with the `-r/--recurse` flag. (#616)
+ When JSDoc is run with the `-r/--recurse` flag, it now scans for tutorials recursively. (#712)
+ JSDoc's `-X/--explain` option now runs much more quickly. (#633)
+ If all of the text for an `@example` tag is indented, JSDoc now removes the extra indentation. (#540)
+ The default value for a parameter or property can now include brackets (for example, `@param {Array.<string>} [foo=['bar']]`). (#640)
+ You can now provide a default value for parameters and properties that are not optional (for example, `@property {string} foo='bar'`). (#791)
+ If the `@type` tag includes a description (for example, `@type {string} some text`), JSDoc now parses the type expression correctly and discards the description. (#615)
+ You can now add JSDoc comments to function parameters. (#473)
+ For Closure Compiler projects, you can now enable a Closure Compiler-specific tag dictionary that more closely matches Closure Compiler's semantics. To enable Closure Compiler semantics, set the configuration file's `tags.dictionaries` option to `['closure']`. This option can contain the values `jsdoc`, `closure`, or both. If multiple dictionaries are enabled, and a tag is defined in more than one dictionary, JSDoc uses the definition from the first dictionary that contains the tag. (#729, #730, #731, #732)
+ If one symbol overrides another, JSDoc now adds an `overrides` property to the doclet that is overriding another. The `overrides` property contains the longname of the overridden symbol. (#792)
+ When a JSDoc tag contains a type expression, the doclet's `type` object now includes a hidden `parsedType` property. The `parsedType` property contains a syntax tree that represents the type expression. The syntax tree is generated by [Catharsis](https://github.com/hegemonic/catharsis), and its format may change in the future. (#576)
+ JSDoc now allows output filenames to contain non-ASCII characters. In addition, links to output files are now URL-encoded when necessary. (#677)
+ JSDoc now ensures that output filenames do not have a leading underscore. (#758)
+ JSDoc now tries to ensure that `id` attributes in output files are unique within that file. (#539)
+ JSDoc now has an up-to-date JSON Schema file for parse results. The schema file is available in `lib/jsdoc/schema.js`. (#327)
+ JSDoc now extracts more information from package files. (#710)
+ JSDoc now displays usage information if you run JSDoc without any input files, or with an unrecognized command-line option. (#609, #840)
### Bug fixes
+ When the `allowUnknownTags` option is set to `false`, JSDoc no longer logs warnings about the presence of `@also` and `@scope` tags. (#574)
+ Fixed several errors when parsing type expressions. (#619, #644, #652, #705, #767)
+ Properties added to the `module.exports` object can now be documented. (#500)
+ When a symbol's name starts with the same characters as its parent namespace (such as `Vector` in `V.Vector`), JSDoc now assigns the correct longname to the symbol. (#608)
+ If a child class inherits from multiple parent classes, and the parent classes have instance members with the same name, the child class no longer displays the documentation from both parent classes. (#613)
+ If a source file contains an object literal, and one of the property names is a whitespace character or a character that must be escaped in a regular expression, JSDoc now parses the file successfully. (#549, #775)
+ Virtual comments now work correctly for overloaded functions. (#727)
+ When a virtual comment appears within a module, JSDoc now assigns the correct values to the virtual comment doclet's `memberof`, `longname`, and `scope` properties. (#631)
+ JSDoc now sets the `scope` property to `global` for all global doclets. (#684)
+ Module doclets no longer have a `scope` property. (#782)
+ In Markdown tutorials, JSDoc no longer unescapes HTML entities. (#743)
+ If a longname includes a variation (for example, `Foo#bar(variation)`), the link text is now preserved when generating HTML links. (#857)
+ When a single JSDoc comment includes `@class`, `@classdesc`, and `@constructor` tags, JSDoc no longer ignores the value of the `@classdesc` tag. (#806)
+ For tags where the name and type are both optional (`@constant`, `@external`, `@member`, `@module`, `@namespace`, and `@param`), JSDoc now parses the tag correctly when it includes a type but not a name. (#351, #535)
+ The `@default` tag now works correctly when used with an array literal. (#604)
+ The `@enum` tag now works correctly when the enumeration is part of a chain of assignments (for example, `var FOO = exports.FOO = {/* enumerated values */}`). (#702)
+ The `@exports` and `@module` tags now work correctly when their value includes a `module:` namespace (for example, `@exports module:foo`). (#786)
+ The `@memberof` tag now works correctly when it refers to a module that is defined in a separate file. (#880)
+ The `@variation` tag now works correctly when its value is enclosed in parentheses (for example, `@variation (foo)`). (#850)
### Plugins
+ Tag definitions can now have a `mustNotHaveDescription` property. When this property is set to `true`, JSDoc will warn the user if the tag text includes a description (such as `The description` in `@param {string} foo - The description`). (#615)
+ Tag definitions can now call the method `dictionary.normalize`, which is a synonym for `dictionary.normalise`. (#884)
+ The Markdown plugin no longer prevents inline `{@link}` tags from working. (#518)
+ The Markdown plugin now converts `@author` and `@throws` tag values to HTML by default. (#736, #878)
+ JSDoc now includes a `summarize` plugin that automatically generates summaries based on the description. (#485)
+ JSDoc now includes an `underscore` plugin that finds symbols whose names begin with an underscore and automatically tags them as `@private`. (#471)
+ Plugins can now replace the `doclet` property of `newDoclet` events. (#584)
### Template improvements
+ You can now override the default template's main layout file, `layout.tmpl`, by setting the `templates.default.layoutFile` option in JSDoc's configuration file. The property can contain a relative or absolute path to the replacement for `layout.tmpl`. Relative paths are resolved against the path to the configuration file; the current working directory; and the JSDoc directory, in that order. (#480)
+ When the `templates.default.outputSourceFiles` option is set to `false`, the documentation no longer shows the path to each source file. (#571)
+ You can now use the property `templates.default.staticFiles.include` to list files that will be copied to the output directory. For backwards compatibility, the property `templates.default.staticFiles.paths` is also supported but is deprecated. (#785)
+ The `templates.default.staticFiles` options now work correctly on Windows. (#785)
+ Output files no longer show the default value for members of an enumeration. (#689)
+ In certain types of AMD modules, the module-overview section is no longer duplicated. (#853)
+ If a constructor is assigned to `module.exports`, the value of the `@classdesc` tag now appears in the documentation. (#740)
+ If a constructor is assigned to `module.exports`, and the constructor inherits from another class, the parent class is now listed in the documentation. (#594)
+ Text within an `@example` tag, including HTML tags, is now properly escaped. (#511)
+ If a member has a `@fires` tag, the tag information now appears in the documentation. (#568)
+ If a symbol has members that use the `@mixin` tag, the mixins are now listed in the documentation. (#379, #602)
+ When multiple `@param` tags are used to document properties of array values (for example, `@param {Object[]} foo` and `@param {string} foo[].bar`), the properties are now grouped into the appropriate row of the parameters table. (#870)
+ If a member has a `@requires` tag, the tag information now appears in the documentation. (#563)
+ Type expressions are now presented more clearly. (#618)
+ Pretty-printed source files now include line numbers. (#532)
+ When you run JSDoc with a single input file, the full path to the file no longer appears in the documentation. (#553)
+ When an overloaded function is assigned to `module.exports`, the documentation now displays all of the signatures for the overloaded function. (#727)
+ Resolved several issues that caused the default template to generate invalid HTML. (#843)
+ Addressed a regression in JSDoc 3.2.1 that could prevent a function declaration from shadowing a declaration with the same name in an outer scope. (#513)
+ If a child class overrides a method in a parent class without documenting the overridden method, the method's documentation is now copied from the parent class. (#503)
+ You can now use inline HTML tags in Markdown-formatted text. In addition, JSDoc now uses only the [marked Markdown parser](https://github.com/chjj/marked); the markdown-js parser has been removed. (#510)
+ Type expressions can now include a much broader range of repeatable types. In addition, you can now use Closure Compiler's nullable and non-nullable modifiers with repeatable types. For example, the type expression `...!string` (a repeatable, non-nullable string) is now parsed correctly. (#502)
+ If a function accepts a parameter named `prototype`, the parameter is no longer renamed during parsing. (#505)
+ If the list of input files includes relative paths, the paths are now resolved relative to the user's working directory. (a3d33842)
+ JSDoc's parser now fires a `processingComplete` event after JSDoc has completed all post-processing of the parse results. This event has a `doclets` property containing an array of doclets. (#421)
+ When JSDoc's parser fires a `parseComplete` event, the event now includes a `doclets` property containing an array of doclets. (#431)
+ You can now use relative paths in the JSDoc configuration file's `source.exclude` option. Relative paths will be resolved relative to the current working directory. (#405)
+ If a symbol uses the `@default` tag, and its default value is an object literal, this value is now stored as a string, and the doclet will have a `defaultvaluetype` property containing the string `object`. This change enables templates to show the default value with appropriate syntax highlighting. (#419)
+ Inline `{@link}` tags can now contain newlines. (#441)
### Bug fixes
+ Inherited symbols now indicate that they were inherited from the ancestor that defined the symbol, rather than the direct parent. (#422)
+ If the first line of a JavaScript file contains a hashbang (for example, `#!/usr/bin/env node`), the hashbang is now ignored when the file is parsed. (#499)
+ Resolved a crash when a JavaScript file contains a [JavaScript 1.8](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/New_in_JavaScript/1.8) keyword, such as `let`. (#477)
+ The type expression `function[]` is now parsed correctly. (#493)
+ If a module is tagged incorrectly, the module's output file now has a valid filename. (#440, #458)
+ For tags that accept names, such as `@module` and `@param`, if a hyphen is used to separate the name and description, the hyphen must appear on the same line as the name. This change prevents a Markdown bullet on the followng line from being interpreted as a separator. (#459)
+ When lenient mode is enabled, a `@param` tag with an invalid type expression no longer causes a crash. (#448)
+ The `@requires` tag can now contain an inline tag in its tag text. (#486)
+ The `@returns` tag can now contain inline tags even if a type is not specified. (#444)
+ When lenient mode is enabled, a `@returns` tag with no value no longer causes a crash. (#451)
+ The `@type` tag now works correctly with type expressions that span multiple lines. (#427)
+ If a string contains inline `{@link}` tags preceded by bracketed link text (for example, `[test]{@link Test#test}`), HTML links are now generated correctly even if the string contains other bracketed text. (#470)
+ On POSIX systems, if you run JSDoc using a symlink to the startup script, JSDoc now works correctly. (#492)
### Default template
+ Pretty-printed source files are now generated by default. To disable this feature, add the property `templates.default.outputSourceFiles: false` to your `conf.json` file. (#454)
+ Links to a specific line in a source file now work correctly. (#475)
+ Pretty-printed source files are now generated using the encoding specified in the `-e/--encoding` option. (#496)
+ If a `@default` tag is added to a symbol whose default value is an object, the value is now displayed in the output file. (#419)
+ Output files now identify symbols as "abstract" rather than "virtual." (#432)
+ JSDoc can now parse any valid [Google Closure Compiler type expression](https://developers.google.com/closure/compiler/docs/js-for-compiler#types). **Note**: As a result of this change, JSDoc quits if a file contains an invalid type expression. To prevent JSDoc from quitting, run JSDoc with the `--lenient` (`-l`) command-line option. (Multiple issues)
+ You can now use the new `@listens` tag to indicate that a symbol listens for an event. (#273)
### Enhancements
+ The parser now fires a `parseBegin` event before it starts parsing files, as well as a `parseComplete` event after all files have been parsed. Plugins can define event handlers for these events, and `parseBegin` handlers can modify the list of files to parse. (#299)
+ Event handlers for `jsdocCommentFound` events can now modify the JSDoc comment. (#228)
+ You can now exclude tags from Markdown processing using the new option `markdown.excludeTags` in the configuration file. (#337)
+ You can now use the [marked](https://github.com/chjj/marked) Markdown parser by setting the configuration property `markdown.parser` to `marked`. In addition, if `markdown.parser` is set to `gfm`, JSDoc will now use the "marked" parser instead. (#385)
+ The `@typedef` tag no longer requires a name when used with a Closure Compiler-style type definition. For example, the following type definition will automatically get the name `Foo.Bar`:
```javascript
/** @typedef {string} */
Foo.Bar;
```
(#391)
+ You can now use an inline `{@type}` tag in a parameter's description. If this tag is present, JSDoc will assume that the parameter uses the type specified in the inline `{@type}` tag. For example, the following `@param` tag would cause `myParam`'s type to be documented as `Foo`:
```
@param {(boolean|string)} myParam - My special parameter. {@type Foo}
```
(#152)
+ The `console.log` function now behaves the same way as on Node.js. In addition, the functions `console.info`, `console.error`, `console.warn`, and `console.trace` have been implemented. (#298)
+ You can now use npm to install JSDoc globally by running `npm install -g`. **Note**: JSDoc will still run under Mozilla Rhino, not Node.js. (#374)
+ The `jsVersion` configuration property has been removed. (#390)
### Bug fixes
+ JSDoc now quits if the configuration file cannot be loaded. (#407)
+ JSDoc's `--explain` (`-X`) option now runs much more quickly, and it outputs valid JSON to the console. (#298)
+ JSDoc's `--lenient` (`-l`) option now prints warnings on STDERR rather than STDOUT. (#298)
+ The parser now assigns the correct scope to object properties whose names include single quotes. (#386)
+ The parser now recognizes CommonJS modules that export a single function rather than an object. (#384)
+ The inline `{@link}` tag now works correctly when `@link` is followed by a tab. (#359)
+ On POSIX systems, quoted command-line arguments are no longer split on spaces. (#397)
### Plugins
+ The new `overloadHelper` plugin makes it easier to link to overloaded methods. (#179)
+ The `markdown` plugin now converts Markdown links in the `@see` tag. (#297)
### Default template enhancements
+ You can now use the configuration property `templates.default.staticFiles` to copy additional static files to the output directory. (#393)
+ All output files now use human-readable filenames. (#339)
+ The documentation for events now lists the symbols that listen to that event. (#273)
+ Links to source files now allow you to jump to the line where a symbol is defined. (#316)
+ The output files now link to individual types within a Closure Compiler type expression. (Multiple issues)
+ CommonJS modules that export a single function, rather than an object, are now documented more clearly. (#384)
+ Functions that can throw multiple types of errors are now documented more clearly. (#389)
+ If a `@property` tag does not identify the property's name, the template no longer throws an error. (#373)
+ The type of each `@typedef` is now displayed. (#391)
+ If a `@see` tag contains a URL (for example, `@see http://example.com` or `@see <http://example.com>`), the tag text is now converted to a link. (#371)
+ Repeatable parameters are now identified. (#381)
+ The "Classes" header is no longer repeated in the navigation bar. (#361)
+ When the only documented symbols in global scope are type definitions, you can now click the "Global" header to view their documentation. (#261)
+ You can now use the new `@callback` tag to provide information about a callback function's signature. To document a callback function, create a standalone JSDoc comment, as shown in the following example:
```javascript
/**
*@class
*/
function MyClass() {}
/**
* Send a request.
*
*@param {MyClass~responseCb} cb - Called after a response is received.
*/
MyClass.prototype.sendRequest = function(cb) {
// code
};
/**
* Callback for sending a request.
*
*@callback MyClass~responseCb
*@param {?string} error - Information about the error.
*@param {?string} response - Body of the response.
*/
```
+ The inline link tag, `{@link}`, has been improved:
+ You can now use a space as the delimiter between the link target and link text.
+ In your `conf.json` file, you can now enable the option `templates.cleverLinks` to display code links in a monospace font and URL links in plain text. You can also enable the option `templates.monospaceLinks` to display all links in a monospace font. **Note**: JSDoc templates must be updated to respect these options.
+ You can now use the new inline tags `{@linkplain}`, which forces a plain-text link, and `{@linkcode}`, which forces a monospace link. These tags always override the settings in your `conf.json` file. (#250)
+ JSDoc now provides a `-l/--lenient` option that tells JSDoc to continue running if it encounters a non-fatal error. (Multiple issues)
+ A template's `publish.js` file should now assign its `publish` function to `exports.publish`, rather than defining a global `publish` function. The global `publish` function is deprecated and may not be supported in future versions. JSDoc's built-in templates reflect this change. (#166)
+ The template helper (`templateHelper.js`) exports a variety of new functions for finding information within a parse tree. These functions were previously contained within the default template. (#186)
+ Updated the `fs` and `path` modules to make their behavior more consistent with Node.js. In addition, created extended versions of these modules with additional functionality. (Multiple commits)
+ Updated or replaced numerous third-party modules. (Multiple commits)
+ Reorganized the JSDoc codebase in preparation for future enhancements. (Multiple commits)
+ JSDoc now embeds a version of Mozilla Rhino that recognizes Node.js packages, including `package.json` files. (Multiple commits)
+ Node.js' `npm` utility can now install JSDoc from its GitHub repository. **Note**: JSDoc is not currently compatible with Node.js. However, this change allows JSDoc to be installed as a dependency of a Node.js project. In this version, global installation with `npm` is not supported. (Multiple commits)
### Enhancements
+ If a `README.md` file is passed to JSDoc, its contents will be included on the `index.html` page of the generated documentation. (#128)
+ The `@augments` tag can now refer to an undocumented member, such as `window.XMLHTTPRequest`. (#160)
+ The `@extends` tag can now refer to an undocumented member, such as `window.XMLHttpRequest`. In addition, you can now use `@host` as a synonym for `@extends`. (#145)
+ The `@lends` tag is now supported in multiline JSDoc comments. (#163)
+ On Windows, `jsdoc.cmd` now provides the same options as the `jsdoc` shell script. (#127)
+ JSDoc now provides `setTimeout()`, `clearTimeout()`, `setInterval()`, and `clearInterval()` functions. (Multiple commits)
+ JSDoc no longer provides a global `exit()` function. Use `process.exit()` instead. (1228a8f7)
+ JSDoc now includes additional shims for Node.js' built-in modules. **Note**: Many of these shims implement only the functions that JSDoc uses, and they may not be consistent with Node.js' behavior in edge cases. (Multiple commits)
+ JSDoc now provides a `-v/--version` option to display information about the current version. (#303)
+ When running tests, you can now use the `--nocolor` option to disable colored output. On Windows, colored output is always disabled. (e17601fe, 8bc33541)
### Bug fixes
+ When using the `@event` tag to define an event within a class or namespace, the event's longname is now set correctly regardless of tag order. (#280)
+ The `@property` tag no longer results in malformed parse trees. (20f87094)
+ The `jsdoc` and `jsdoc.cmd` scripts now work correctly with paths that include spaces. (#127, #130)
+ The `jsdoc` script now works correctly on Cygwin and MinGW, and with the `dash` shell. (#182, #184, #187)
+ The `-d/--destination` option is no longer treated as a path relative to the JSDoc directory. Instead, it can contain an absolute path, or a path relative to the current working directory. (f5e3f0f3)
+ JSDoc now provides default options for the values in `conf.json`. (#129)
+ If the `conf.json` file does not exist, JSDoc no longer tries to create it, which prevents errors if the current user does not have write access to the JSDoc directory. (d2d05fcb)
+ Doclets for getters and setters are now parsed appropriately. (#150)
+ Only the first asterisk is removed from each line of a JSDoc comment. (#172)
+ If a child member overrides an ancestor member, the ancestor member is no longer documented. (#158)
+ If a member of a namespace has the same name as a namespace, the member is now documented correctly. (#214)
+ The parse tree now uses a single set of properties to track both JSDoc-style type information and Closure Compiler-style type information. (#118)
+ If a type has a leading `!`, indicating that it is non-nullable, the leading `!` is now removed from the type name. (#226)
+ When Markdown formatting is enabled, underscores in inline `{@link}` tags are no longer treated as Markdown formatting characters. (#259)
+ Markdown links now work correctly when a JavaScript reserved word, such as `constructor`, is used as the link text. (#249)
+ Markdown files for tutorials are now parsed based on the settings in `conf.json`, rather than using the "evilstreak" Markdown parser in all cases. (#220)
+ If a folder contains both tutorial source files and `.js` files, JSDoc no longer attempts to parse the `.js` files as JSON files. (#222)
+ The "evilstreak" Markdown parser now works correctly with files that use Windows-style line endings. (#223)
+ JSDoc no longer fails unit tests when the `conf.json` file is not present. (#206)
+ On Windows, JSDoc now passes all unit tests. (Multiple commits)
### Plugins
+ The new `partial` plugin adds support for a `@partial` tag, which links to an external file that contains JSDoc comments. (#156)
+ The new `commentsOnly` plugin removes everything in a file except JSDoc-style comments. You can use this plugin to document source files that are not valid JavaScript, including source files for other languages. (#304)
+ The new `eventDumper` plugin logs information about parser events to the console. (#242)
+ The new `verbose` plugin logs the name of each input file to the console. (#157)
### Template enhancements
#### Default template
+ The template output now includes pretty-printed versions of source files. This feature is enabled by default. To disable this feature, add the property `templates.default.outputSourceFiles: false` to your `conf.json` file. (#208)
+ You can now use the template if it is placed outside of the JSDoc directory. (#198)
+ The template no longer throws an error when a parameter does not have a name. (#175)
+ The navigation bar now includes an "Events" section if any events are documented. (#280)
+ Pages no longer include a "Classes" header when no classes are documented. (eb0186b9)
+ Member details now include "Inherited From" section when a member is inherited from another member. (#154)
+ If an `@author` tag contains text in the format "Jane Doe <jdoe@example.com>", the value is now converted to an HTML `mailto:` link. (#326)
+ Headings for functions now include the function's signature. (#253)
+ Type information is now displayed for events. (#192)
+ Functions now link to their return type when appropriate. (#192)
+ Type definitions that contain functions are now displayed correctly. (#292)
+ Tutorial output is now generated correctly. (#188)
+ Output files now use Google Code Prettify with the Tomorrow theme as a syntax highlighter. (#193)
+ The `index.html` output file is no longer overwritten if a namespace called `index` has been documented. (#244)
+ The current JSDoc version number is now displayed in the footer. (#321)
#### Haruki template
+ Members are now contained in arrays rather than objects, allowing overloaded members to be documented. (#153)
+ A clearer error message is now provided when the output destination is not specified correctly. (#174)
+ The `conf.json` file may now contain `source.include` and `source.exclude` properties. (#56)
+ `source.include` specifies files or directories that JSDoc should _always_ check for documentation.
+ `source.exclude` specifies files or directories that JSDoc should _never_ check for documentation.
These settings take precedence over the `source.includePattern` and `source.excludePattern` properties, which contain regular expressions that JSDoc uses to search for source files.
+ The `-t/--template` option may now specify the absolute path to a template. (#122)
### Bug fixes
+ JSDoc no longer throws exceptions when a symbol has a special name, such as `hasOwnProperty`. (1ef37251)
+ The `@alias` tag now works correctly when documenting inner classes as globals. (810dd7f7)
### Template improvements
+ The default template now sorts classes by name correctly when the classes come from several modules. (4ce17195)
+ The Haruki template now correctly supports `@example`, `@members`, and `@returns` tags. (6580e176, 59655252, 31c8554d)
