Why the heck is null != undefined evaluating to true in my code?

[EdenSweden]

Greetings! I have this weird output that’s not making sense to me.
I know in JS, null and undefined are loosely equal.
This is my code:

    const [value, setValue] = useState(()=>{
        const jsonValue = localStorage.getItem(prefixedKey); //undefined b/c nothing is in there yet. (prefixedKey is of course defined earlier in document)
        console.log('jsonValue: ' + jsonValue); // jsonValue: undefined
        console.log(jsonValue != null); // evaluates to true. Why?
        if (jsonValue != null) return JSON.parse(jsonValue); // throws a syntax error because it expected to find something to parse and it's undefined.
});

(There’s more in this useState hook but I’ve cut out what I deemed unnecessary).
I even tested in the browser console console.log(undefined != null) and it logs false.
When something does exist in local storage, the above code works perfectly.

What could be going on here?

[EdenSweden]

ooooh. I have an idea. Could it be because jsonValue is being set to the function localStorage.getItem() and a function name itself doesn’t evaluate to false?
Or am I totally off base?

[lasjorg]

It is a string?

undefined != null
// false
undefined !== null
// true
'undefined' != null
// true

[EdenSweden]

Ooooh. In other circumstances, maybe this code would work. But because it’s in local storage, it is in fact storing a string that literally says “undefined.” I just did a type check and it’s a string. I bet that’s the problem.

[EdenSweden]

Yes! I think I figured that out at the same time as you did. It’s literally a string that says ‘undefined’ in local storage. That has to be the reason why.

[lasjorg]

Sound about right. I’d suggest using a typeof check for debugging code like this as well.

You may also want to be careful when relying on type coercion, it can get a little odd at times.

[EdenSweden]

So true. JS type coercion can lead to unexpected outcomes unless you’re an expert on the subject lol. Well thank you.