A greeting needs to work when a caller supplies a name and when it supplies nothing. Repeating a fallback assignment in every caller makes that simple rule harder to keep consistent.
A default parameter handles an omitted argument or undefined. The example returns "Welcome, Mina" for the supplied name and "Welcome, Guest" for the omitted call. It keeps both outcomes visible so the fallback condition is easy to understand.

Try the working example
Use Changed data to compare another sample, or edit the JSON and choose Update preview. Original data restores the starting case.
<!doctype html><html lang="en"><head><meta charset="utf-8"><meta name="nos-demo-layout" content="responsive-lab"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"><title>Greeting with a fallback</title><style>*{box-sizing:border-box}body{margin:0;background:#edf1f0;color:#172d36;font:15px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif}main{max-width:1040px;margin:auto;padding:24px}header{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;gap:12px;align-items:center;margin-bottom:20px}.eyebrow{font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2px;color:#55716b;text-transform:uppercase}h1{font-size:clamp(23px,4vw,34px);line-height:1.15;margin:8px 0}h2{font-size:16px;margin:0 0 12px}.tag{border:1px solid #bfceca;border-radius:99px;padding:6px 12px;font-size:12px;white-space:nowrap}.panel{background:white;border:1px solid #d4dfdb;border-radius:18px;padding:20px;margin-bottom:14px;box-shadow:0 9px 30px #1d393407}.grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:14px}.result{background:#17352f;color:#f7fffb}.result h2{color:#c9ded5}.cards{display:grid;gap:10px;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(135px,1fr))}.card{background:#f2ffc2;color:#17352f;padding:15px;border-radius:12px;min-width:0;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.card small{display:block;color:#536f60;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:4px}.field{display:block;margin:8px 0}.field small{margin:0 0 3px;text-transform:none}.value{font-size:15px;font-weight:650;white-space:pre-wrap}.hero{font-size:clamp(28px,5vw,46px);font-weight:750;line-height:1.2;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.muted{color:#587169;font-size:13px}.result .muted{color:#bed7cb}pre{margin:0;white-space:pre-wrap;overflow-wrap:anywhere;font:13px/1.6 ui-monospace,monospace;max-height:220px;overflow:auto}.toolbar{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px;margin:12px 0}button{background:#17352f;color:white;border:0;border-radius:10px;padding:10px 14px;font:600 13px system-ui;cursor:pointer}button.secondary{background:#edf3ea;color:#244337;border:1px solid #d0ddd0}button:hover{filter:brightness(.94)}button:focus-visible,textarea:focus-visible,summary:focus-visible{outline:3px solid #749919;outline-offset:3px}textarea{display:block;width:100%;height:126px;border:1px solid #bccfc5;border-radius:10px;background:#fafcf9;padding:12px;font:13px/1.5 ui-monospace,monospace;resize:vertical;color:#15362c}label{font-weight:650;font-size:13px}details{margin-top:16px}summary{cursor:pointer;font-size:13px;font-weight:650}#status{min-height:20px;font-size:12px;color:#526f60;margin-top:8px}.error{color:#ffcfbf}.footer{font-size:12px;color:#627b72;margin-top:16px}.empty{font-size:18px;color:#c7dacd}.source-card{background:#f4f7f3;border:1px solid #dbe4d8;border-radius:10px;padding:12px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;white-space:pre-wrap}.source-list{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px;max-height:170px;overflow:auto}.source-list .source-card{flex:1;min-width:100px}.code{background:#f5f8f2}mark{background:#f2ffc2;color:#183a2d;padding:2px 5px;border-radius:4px}@media(max-width:620px){main{padding:15px}.grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}.panel{padding:16px}header{align-items:flex-start}.tag{display:none}h1{font-size:25px}.cards{grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(125px,1fr))}.source-list{max-height:120px}pre{max-height:150px}}</style></head><body><main>
<header><div><div class="eyebrow">JavaScript • Function default-parameters</div><h1>Greeting with a fallback</h1><div class="muted">Change the data. See the actual result.</div></div><span class="tag">Interactive prototype</span></header>
<section class="panel"><label for="input">Input data (JSON)</label><textarea id="input" maxlength="10000" spellcheck="false"></textarea><div class="toolbar"><button id="run" type="button">Update preview</button><button class="secondary" id="original" type="button">Original data</button><button class="secondary" id="changed" type="button">Changed data</button><button class="secondary" id="edge" type="button">Empty / zero case</button></div><div id="status" role="status" aria-live="polite"></div></section>
<div class="grid"><section class="panel"><h2>Source after the operation</h2><div id="source" class="source-list"></div><p id="source-status" class="muted"></p></section><section class="panel result"><h2>Returned result</h2><div id="result" aria-live="polite"></div></section></div><details class="panel code"><summary>Inspect the exact values</summary><pre id="inspect"></pre></details>
<p class="footer">Local sample data only. No server request, account, or installation is needed.</p></main><script>
'use strict';
const initial = "\"Mina\"";
const alternate = "\"Mina 42\"";
const empty = "\"\"";
const input = document.getElementById('input');
const output = document.getElementById('result');
const source = document.getElementById('source');
const status = document.getElementById('status');
function transform(data) { return (()=>{function greet(name = 'Guest'){return 'Welcome, ' + name;}return {provided:greet(data),omitted:greet()};})(); }
function readable(value) {
if (value === undefined) return 'undefined';
if (typeof value === 'number' && Object.is(value, -0)) return '-0';
return JSON.stringify(value, (_, v) => typeof v === 'number' && !Number.isFinite(v) ? String(v) : v, 2);
}
function renderCards(value, host) {
host.replaceChildren();
if (Array.isArray(value)) {
if (!value.length) {const p=document.createElement('p');p.className='empty';p.textContent='No items returned';host.append(p);return;}
const grid=document.createElement('div');grid.className='cards';
value.slice(0,40).forEach((item,index)=>{const card=document.createElement('div');card.className='card';const label=document.createElement('small');label.textContent='Item '+(index+1);card.append(label);appendValue(item,card);grid.append(card);});host.append(grid);
if(value.length>40){const p=document.createElement('p');p.textContent='Showing 40 of '+value.length+' items.';host.append(p);}
} else if(value && typeof value==='object'){const card=document.createElement('div');card.className='card';appendValue(value,card);host.append(card);}
else {const p=document.createElement('div');p.className='hero';p.textContent=typeof value==='boolean'?(value?'Yes · true':'No · false'):value===undefined?'No value · undefined':value===''?'Empty string':String(value);host.append(p);}
}
function appendValue(value,host){
if(value && typeof value==='object' && !Array.isArray(value))Object.entries(value).slice(0,40).forEach(([key,item])=>{const row=document.createElement('div');row.className='field';const label=document.createElement('small');label.textContent=key;const text=document.createElement('span');text.className='value';text.textContent=typeof item==='string'?item:readable(item);row.append(label,text);host.append(row);});
else {const text=document.createElement('div');text.className='value';text.textContent=typeof value==='string'?value:readable(value);host.append(text);}
}
function update(){
try{
if(input.value.length>10000)throw new Error('Keep this sample below 10,000 characters.');
const data=JSON.parse(input.value);const before=readable(data);const result=transform(data);const after=readable(data);
renderCards(result,output);source.replaceChildren();(Array.isArray(data)?data.slice(0,40):[data]).forEach(item=>{const card=document.createElement('div');card.className='source-card';card.textContent=typeof item==='string'?item:readable(item);source.append(card);});document.getElementById('source-status').textContent=before===after?'Data values unchanged':'Data values changed in place';document.getElementById('inspect').textContent='Input before:\n'+before+'\n\nReturned result:\n'+readable(result)+'\n\nSource after:\n'+after;
output.classList.remove('error');status.textContent='Preview updated. '+(before===after?'Data values unchanged.':'Source data changed in place.');
}catch(error){output.replaceChildren();output.classList.add('error');output.textContent=error.name+': '+error.message;source.replaceChildren();document.getElementById('source-status').textContent='';document.getElementById('inspect').textContent='';status.textContent='Check the JSON and the input shape. Restore Original data to start again.';}
}
document.getElementById('run').addEventListener('click',update);
[['original',initial],['changed',alternate],['edge',empty]].forEach(([id,value])=>document.getElementById(id).addEventListener('click',()=>{input.value=value;update();}));
input.value=initial;update();
</script></body></html>
Apply a fallback when the argument is omitted
The parameter declaration name = 'Guest' belongs to greet. When greet(data) receives the sample string Mina, the supplied value is used. When greet() supplies no argument, the parameter gets Guest.
An explicit undefined also activates the default. The function then returns a greeting using its selected name. The sample returns both calls in one object, rather than changing the source input or asking you to switch between two hidden branches.
Putting the fallback in the function is useful when every caller should follow the same omitted-name rule. It keeps the contract near the code that uses the value.
const data = "Mina";
const result = (()=>{function greet(name = 'Guest'){return 'Welcome, ' + name;}return {provided:greet(data),omitted:greet()};})();
console.log(result);
The original sample returns:
{
"provided": "Welcome, Mina",
"omitted": "Welcome, Guest"
}

Keep the example on your own page
The smaller version below includes the HTML, styles, and script. Choose Copy code, save the result as an index.html file, and open it in a browser.
<!doctype html><html lang="en"><head><meta charset="utf-8"><meta name="nos-demo-layout" content="responsive-lab"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"><title>Greeting with a fallback</title><style>*{box-sizing:border-box}body{margin:0;background:#edf1f0;color:#172d36;font:15px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif}main{max-width:1040px;margin:auto;padding:24px}header{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;gap:12px;align-items:center;margin-bottom:20px}.eyebrow{font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2px;color:#55716b;text-transform:uppercase}h1{font-size:clamp(23px,4vw,34px);line-height:1.15;margin:8px 0}h2{font-size:16px;margin:0 0 12px}.tag{border:1px solid #bfceca;border-radius:99px;padding:6px 12px;font-size:12px;white-space:nowrap}.panel{background:white;border:1px solid #d4dfdb;border-radius:18px;padding:20px;margin-bottom:14px;box-shadow:0 9px 30px #1d393407}.grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:14px}.result{background:#17352f;color:#f7fffb}.result h2{color:#c9ded5}.cards{display:grid;gap:10px;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(135px,1fr))}.card{background:#f2ffc2;color:#17352f;padding:15px;border-radius:12px;min-width:0;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.card small{display:block;color:#536f60;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:4px}.field{display:block;margin:8px 0}.field small{margin:0 0 3px;text-transform:none}.value{font-size:15px;font-weight:650;white-space:pre-wrap}.hero{font-size:clamp(28px,5vw,46px);font-weight:750;line-height:1.2;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.muted{color:#587169;font-size:13px}.result .muted{color:#bed7cb}pre{margin:0;white-space:pre-wrap;overflow-wrap:anywhere;font:13px/1.6 ui-monospace,monospace;max-height:220px;overflow:auto}.toolbar{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px;margin:12px 0}button{background:#17352f;color:white;border:0;border-radius:10px;padding:10px 14px;font:600 13px system-ui;cursor:pointer}button.secondary{background:#edf3ea;color:#244337;border:1px solid #d0ddd0}button:hover{filter:brightness(.94)}button:focus-visible,textarea:focus-visible,summary:focus-visible{outline:3px solid #749919;outline-offset:3px}textarea{display:block;width:100%;height:126px;border:1px solid #bccfc5;border-radius:10px;background:#fafcf9;padding:12px;font:13px/1.5 ui-monospace,monospace;resize:vertical;color:#15362c}label{font-weight:650;font-size:13px}details{margin-top:16px}summary{cursor:pointer;font-size:13px;font-weight:650}#status{min-height:20px;font-size:12px;color:#526f60;margin-top:8px}.error{color:#ffcfbf}.footer{font-size:12px;color:#627b72;margin-top:16px}.empty{font-size:18px;color:#c7dacd}.source-card{background:#f4f7f3;border:1px solid #dbe4d8;border-radius:10px;padding:12px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;white-space:pre-wrap}.source-list{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px;max-height:170px;overflow:auto}.source-list .source-card{flex:1;min-width:100px}.code{background:#f5f8f2}mark{background:#f2ffc2;color:#183a2d;padding:2px 5px;border-radius:4px}@media(max-width:620px){main{padding:15px}.grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}.panel{padding:16px}header{align-items:flex-start}.tag{display:none}h1{font-size:25px}.cards{grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(125px,1fr))}.source-list{max-height:120px}pre{max-height:150px}}</style></head><body><main>
<header><div><div class="eyebrow">JavaScript • Function default-parameters</div><h1>Greeting with a fallback</h1><div class="muted">One input, one operation, one observable result.</div></div><span class="tag">Starter example</span></header>
<section class="panel"><label for="input">Input data (JSON)</label><textarea id="input" maxlength="10000" spellcheck="false"></textarea><div class="toolbar"><button id="run" type="button">Update preview</button><button class="secondary" id="original" type="button">Original data</button><button class="secondary" id="changed" type="button">Changed data</button><button class="secondary" id="edge" type="button">Empty / zero case</button></div><div id="status" role="status" aria-live="polite"></div></section>
<div class="grid"><section class="panel code"><h2>The operation</h2><pre id="expression"></pre></section><section class="panel result"><h2>Returned result</h2><pre id="result" aria-live="polite"></pre></section></div><section class="panel"><h2>Source after the operation</h2><pre id="source"></pre></section>
<p class="footer">Local sample data only. No server request, account, or installation is needed.</p></main><script>
'use strict';
const initial = "\"Mina\"";
const alternate = "\"Mina 42\"";
const empty = "\"\"";
const input = document.getElementById('input');
const output = document.getElementById('result');
const source = document.getElementById('source');
const status = document.getElementById('status');
function transform(data) { return (()=>{function greet(name = 'Guest'){return 'Welcome, ' + name;}return {provided:greet(data),omitted:greet()};})(); }
function readable(value) {
if (value === undefined) return 'undefined';
if (typeof value === 'number' && Object.is(value, -0)) return '-0';
return JSON.stringify(value, (_, v) => typeof v === 'number' && !Number.isFinite(v) ? String(v) : v, 2);
}
function renderCards(value, host) {
host.replaceChildren();
if (Array.isArray(value)) {
if (!value.length) {const p=document.createElement('p');p.className='empty';p.textContent='No items returned';host.append(p);return;}
const grid=document.createElement('div');grid.className='cards';
value.slice(0,40).forEach((item,index)=>{const card=document.createElement('div');card.className='card';const label=document.createElement('small');label.textContent='Item '+(index+1);card.append(label);appendValue(item,card);grid.append(card);});host.append(grid);
if(value.length>40){const p=document.createElement('p');p.textContent='Showing 40 of '+value.length+' items.';host.append(p);}
} else if(value && typeof value==='object'){const card=document.createElement('div');card.className='card';appendValue(value,card);host.append(card);}
else {const p=document.createElement('div');p.className='hero';p.textContent=typeof value==='boolean'?(value?'Yes · true':'No · false'):value===undefined?'No value · undefined':value===''?'Empty string':String(value);host.append(p);}
}
function appendValue(value,host){
if(value && typeof value==='object' && !Array.isArray(value))Object.entries(value).slice(0,40).forEach(([key,item])=>{const row=document.createElement('div');row.className='field';const label=document.createElement('small');label.textContent=key;const text=document.createElement('span');text.className='value';text.textContent=typeof item==='string'?item:readable(item);row.append(label,text);host.append(row);});
else {const text=document.createElement('div');text.className='value';text.textContent=typeof value==='string'?value:readable(value);host.append(text);}
}
function update(){
try{
if(input.value.length>10000)throw new Error('Keep this sample below 10,000 characters.');
const data=JSON.parse(input.value);const before=readable(data);const result=transform(data);const after=readable(data);
output.textContent=readable(result);source.textContent=after;
output.classList.remove('error');status.textContent='Preview updated. '+(before===after?'Data values unchanged.':'Source data changed in place.');
}catch(error){output.replaceChildren();output.classList.add('error');output.textContent=error.name+': '+error.message;source.replaceChildren();status.textContent='Check the JSON and the input shape. Restore Original data to start again.';}
}
document.getElementById('run').addEventListener('click',update);
[['original',initial],['changed',alternate],['edge',empty]].forEach(([id,value])=>document.getElementById(id).addEventListener('click',()=>{input.value=value;update();}));
document.getElementById('expression').textContent="(()=>{function greet(name = 'Guest'){return 'Welcome, ' + name;}return {provided:greet(data),omitted:greet()};})()";
input.value=initial;update();
</script></body></html>
Null and blank text do not activate the default
Null, an empty string, zero, and false do not activate a default parameter. They are supplied values, even if your interface considers them unsuitable names. Passing null produces a null-based greeting in this simple example rather than Guest.
A user-facing name field may therefore need separate trimming and validation. Decide whether a blank string should become Guest, trigger an error, or remain blank; a parameter default does not make that choice.
Do not replace the default with name || 'Guest' without checking the behavior. That expression substitutes for all falsy values, which is a different rule and can erase legitimate zero or false values in other kinds of functions.
Compare supplied, missing, and blank names
Try Mina, an empty string, and null in the editor. The provided-call field changes, while the omitted-call field remains "Welcome, Guest" because it always calls greet without an argument.
Copy the starter and add an explicit greet(undefined) comparison. Then add a separate name-validation step if the page should reject blank names. Keeping fallback and validation distinct makes the resulting greeting predictable for both callers and readers.

The MDN reference for Default parameters documents the method's full behavior and browser compatibility.
For help editing the sample input, the JSON guide explains valid JSON and how parsing turns it into JavaScript values.
Share a working explanation
Share the complete greeting example using HTML to link on NOS so another person can test the omitted and supplied cases. A working comparison is clearer than saying every empty value falls back. Use fictional names; the sample does not collect profiles or synchronize greetings between viewers.