# identity

Function • Returns its argument.

Arguments

name	type	description
value	Any	Any JavaScript value.

Returns

name	type	description
value	Any	The unaltered argument `value`.

# Description

Named for the mathematical concept of identity. identity returns the first argument you provide it, unaltered. This is the functional version of a no operation. Use it as a default, a fallback, or even just as a placeholder for in-progress code.

Point of Interest

The return value is the arugment value. That is, even when passing an object to identity, the return value is strictly equal to the argument value.

# Examples

# Returns its argument.

assert.equal 1,
  _.identity 1

assert.equal(1,
  _.identity(1));

# Returns only its first argument.

assert.equal 1,
  _.identity 1, 2, 3

assert.equal(1,
  _.identity(1, 2, 3));

# Returns the exact argument. Even objects are strictly equal.

a = company: "Delos"

assert.equal a,
  _.identity a

const a = { company: "Delos" };

assert.equal(a,
  _.identity(a));