objectSpreadUnnecessaryFallbacks

Reports empty object fallbacks in object spread expressions that have no effect.

✅ This rule is included in the ts logical and logicalStrict presets.

When spreading a value into an object literal, JavaScript handles undefined and null by skipping them without throwing an error. This means that fallback patterns like { ...value || {} } or { ...value ?? {} } are unnecessary.

This rule reports when an object spread fallback is an empty object.

Examples

❌ Incorrect

const merged = { ...(options || {}) };

const config = { ...(settings ?? {}) };

const result = { ...(getValue() || {}) };

const data = { ...(nested.property ?? {}) };

✅ Correct

const merged = { ...options };

const config = { ...settings };

const result = { ...getValue() };

const data = { ...nested.property };

const merged = { ...(options || { defaultValue: true }) };

Options

This rule is not configurable.

When Not To Use It

If you prefer the explicit fallback pattern for clarity, even when it’s not strictly necessary, you might want to disable this rule. Some developers find { ...value || {} } more readable as it explicitly signals the intent to handle potentially nullish values, even though the behavior is identical without the fallback.

Further Reading

• MDN: Spread syntax (…)
• MDN: Nullish coalescing operator (??)
• MDN: Logical OR (||)

Equivalents in Other Linters

• ESLint: unicorn/no-useless-fallback-in-spread
• Oxlint: unicorn/no-useless-fallback-in-spread