Sequels

An SQL string can be built in many ways in JavaScript and other languages. Below are the variations I've seen and have used.

My personal favourite at the moment is the Concatenated array items.

Have your own way? Add it below.

Single line

var sql = 'SELECT * FROM table WHERE column = value';

Pros

• Simple
• Minimal typing

Cons

• Can't grow without becoming unreadable

Multi line concatenated statements

var sql = 'SELECT * ';
sql += 'FROM table ';
sql += 'WHERE column = value ';

Or if you'd like things to line up:

var sql = '' ;
sql  = 'SELECT *' ;
sql += 'FROM table ';
sql += 'WHERE column = value ';

Pros

• Simple(ish)
• Can grow as needed
• Each line is consistent

Cons

• A space is needed on each line (beginning or end)
• A bunch more typing for each line

Concatenated array items

var sql = [
  'SELECT *',
  'FROM table',
  'WHERE column = value'
];

Pros

• Nice to read
• Will grow
• No leading/trailing space needed

Cons

• sql.join(' ') is needed when used

Escape newline

var sql = "SELECT * \
FROM table \
WHERE column = value";

Pros

• No extra whitespace required
• No need for closing/opening quotes repeatedly
• Will grow

Cons

• Having to escape newline looks ugly

Multiline npm module

var sql = multiline(function(){/*
SELECT *
FROM table
WHERE column = value
*/});

Pros

• Write everything as is
• No newline escape
• Will grow
• No extra whitespace

Cons

• Extra package dependency
• Micro performance hit
• JavaScript only (AFAIK)