JavaScript handles type coercion, the automatic conversion of values between different data types, flexibly and implicitly. Type coercion occurs primarily in situations where operators or functions expect a specific type, and the provided value is of a different type.
JavaScript employs two types of type coercion: implicit and explicit. Implicit coercion occurs automatically during runtime, often in scenarios involving operators like `+` or `==`. For instance, when concatenating a string and a number using the `+` operator, JavaScript coerces the number to a string.
Explicit coercion, on the other hand, involves intentionally converting a value from one type to another using functions like `Number()`, `String()`, or `Boolean()`.
While type coercion can be convenient, it can also lead to unexpected results. Developers should be cautious, especially when using loose equality operators (`==`), as they perform type coercion. Using strict equality operators (`===` and `!==`) is recommended to avoid unintended conversions and ensure more predictable behavior in comparison operations. Understanding how JavaScript handles type coercion is crucial for writing robust and predictable code.