Enabling JavaScript Debugging in Visual Studio 2019

As a developer, you may have encountered situations where the JavaScript code you have written does not work as intended. Despite being a minor issue, fixing it could require a lot of time and effort. However, one way to tackle such problems is by enabling JavaScript debugging in Visual Studio 2019.

Prerequisites

Before you commence, it is crucial to verify the existence of the following requirements on your device:

• Visual Studio 2019
• A web application project

Step 1: Start Debugging

In order to debug your JavaScript code, you must first launch your web application project on Visual Studio 2019. Then, click on the “Debug” section and select “Start Debugging” or hit the F5 button.

Once you have commenced debugging, Visual Studio 2019 will load your web application through your web browser. This will enable debugging your JavaScript code efficiently and swiftly.

Step 2: Enable JavaScript Debugging

To activate JavaScript debugging in Visual Studio 2019, move to the “Debug” tab from the menu bar and click on “Options”.

When the “Options” dialog box appears, navigate to “Debugging” > “JavaScript” and then click on the checkbox next to “Enable JavaScript debugging for ASP.NET (Chrome, Edge, and IE)” to enable it.

Having enabled JS debugging, you can now add breakpoints, analyze variables, discern the logic and execute JavaScript code debugging through Visual Studio 2019.

Step 3: Set Breakpoints in JavaScript Code

Now that you have activated JavaScript debugging, it is now possible to set breakpoints. To place a breakpoint in your JavaScript code, click on the margin located at the left of the code line where you want to set the breakpoint.

When you execute your web application via your web browser, Visual Studio 2019 will halt debugging at the particular breakpoint you have set, allowing you to scrutinize variables, examine functions and debug your JavaScript code.

Step 4: Inspect Variables

Occasionally while debugging JavaScript code, you may need to analyze variables to comprehend the values they hold at specific time periods. To facilitate variable analysis, use the “Locals” window on Visual Studio 2019.

Go to the “Debug” option and select “Windows” then “Locals.” The “Locals” window displays all variables that are in scope. You can then use the “Watch” window to observe specific variables. Go to the “Debug” option and select “Windows” > “Watch.” On this window, you can add the variables you want to keep track of.

Step 5: Step Through Your JavaScript Code

While debugging your JavaScript code, you may need to examine code one line at a time to gain an understanding of its flow. To achieve this, use the “Step Into,” “Step Over,” and “Step Out” buttons located in Visual Studio 2019’s debugging toolbar.

Conclusion

Enabling JS debugging in Visual Studio 2019 is an effective time-saving measure when you need to debug JavaScript code. With this feature, you can establish breakpoints, inspect variables, and perceive the flow of your JavaScript code which makes finding and resolving errors more efficient. We wish you every success as you learn and utilize the techniques we have expounded upon in this article. Happy debugging!