Grouping

The grouping operator ( ) controls the precedence of evaluation in expressions.

Syntax

 ( )

Description

The grouping operator consists of a pair of parentheses around an expression or sub-expression to override the normal operator precedence so that expressions with lower precedence can be evaluated before an expression with higher priority.

Examples

Overriding multiplication and division first, then addition and subtraction to evaluate addition first.

var a = 1;
var b = 2;
var c = 3;

// default precedence
a + b * c     // 7
// evaluated by default like this
a + (b * c)   // 7

// now overriding precedence 
// addition before multiplication   
(a + b) * c   // 9

// which is equivalent to
a * c + b * c // 9

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
ECMAScript 2017 Draft (ECMA-262) The definition of 'The Grouping Operator' in that specification.	Draft
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262) The definition of 'The Grouping Operator' in that specification.	Standard
ECMAScript 5.1 (ECMA-262) The definition of 'The Grouping Operator' in that specification.	Standard
ECMAScript 1st Edition (ECMA-262) The definition of 'The Grouping Operator' in that specification.	Standard	Initial definition. Implemented in JavaScript 1.0.

Browser compatibility

See also

• Operator precedence
• delete
• typeof