noctcore-code-quality/prefer-early-return

Prefer a guard clause over wrapping the whole function body in an if.

Recommended preset: error · Autofix: no · Suggestions: no · Type information: not needed

Why

When a function’s entire body is wrapped in a single if with no else, the happy path is needlessly indented and the reader has to hold the condition in their head to the end. Inverting the condition into an early return keeps the meaningful work at the top level and reads top-to-bottom.

What it flags

The last statement of a function block that is an if with:

• no else branch, and
• a block consequent holding two or more statements.

Incorrect

// the whole body is wrapped
function handle(x) {
  if (x) {
    doA();
    doB();
  }
}

Correct

// guard clause
function handle(x) {
  if (!x) {
    return;
  }
  doA();
  doB();
}

What it does not flag

A single-statement if, an if/else, or an if that is not the final statement is left alone — those are not body-wraps.

When not to use it

If you prefer the wrapped style, or lint a codebase where trailing single-if bodies are idiomatic, disable it.