I know that in PHP 5.3 instead of using this redundant ternary operator syntax:
startingNum = startingNum ? startingNum : 1
...we can use a shorthand syntax for our ternary operators where applicable:
startingNum = startingNum ?: 1
And I know about the ternary operator in JavaScript:
startingNum = startingNum ? startingNum : 1
...but is there a shorthand?
var startingNumber = startingNumber || 1;
Something like that what you're looking for, where it defaults if undefined?
var foo = bar || 1; // 1
var bar = 2;
foo = bar || 1; // 2
By the way, this works for a lot of scenarios, including objects:
var foo = bar || {}; // secure an object is assigned when bar is absent