[javascript] No visible cause for "Unexpected token ILLEGAL"

I'm getting this JavaScript error on my console:

Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected token ILLEGAL

This is my code:

var foo = 'bar';?

It's super simple, as you can see. How could it be causing a syntax error?

I had the same problem on my mac and found it was because the Mac was replacing the standard quotes with curly quotes which are illegal javascript characters.

To fix this I had to change the settings on my mac System Preferences=>Keyboard=>Text(tab) uncheck use smart quotes and dashes (default was checked).

I got this error in chrome when I had an unterminated string after the line that the error pointed to. After closing the string the error went away.

Example with error:

var file = files[i]; // SyntaxError: Unexpected token ILLEGAL

jQuery('#someDiv').innerHTML = file.name + " (" + formatSize(file.size) + ") "
    + "<a href=\"javascript: something('"+file.id+');\">Error is here</a>";

Example without error:

var file = files[i]; // No error

jQuery('#someDiv').innerHTML = file.name + " (" + formatSize(file.size) + ") "
    + "<a href=\"javascript: something('"+file.id+"');\">Error was here</a>";

When running OS X, the filesystem creates hidden forks of basically all your files, if they are on a hard drive that doesn't support HFS+. This can sometimes (happened to me just now) lead to your JavaScript engine tries to run the data-fork instead of the code you intend it to run. When this happens, you will also receive

SyntaxError: Unexpected token ILLEGAL

because the data fork of your file will contain the Unicode U+200B character. Removing the data fork file will make your script run your actual, intended code, instead of a binary data fork of your code.

.whatever : These files are created on volumes that don't natively support full HFS file characteristics (e.g. ufs volumes, Windows fileshares, etc). When a Mac file is copied to such a volume, its data fork is stored under the file's regular name, and the additional HFS information (resource fork, type & creator codes, etc) is stored in a second file (in AppleDouble format), with a name that starts with ".". (These files are, of course, invisible as far as OS-X is concerned, but not to other OS's; this can sometimes be annoying...)

• Gordon Davisson @ http://www.westwind.com/reference/OS-X/invisibles.html

Here is my reason:

before:

var path = "D:\xxx\util.s"

which \u is a escape, I figured it out by using Codepen's analyze JS.

after:

var path = "D:\\xxx\\util.s"

and the error fixed

why you looking for this problem into your code? Even, if it's copypasted.

If you can see, what exactly happening after save file in synced folder - you will see something like ***** at the end of file. It's not related to your code at all.

Solution.

If you are using nginx in vagrant box - add to server config:

sendfile off;

If you are using apache in vagrant box - add to server config:

EnableSendfile Off;

Source of problem: VirtualBox Bug

I am going to add one more answer to the pile. THis problem could happen also because of encoding. You want utf8 encoding to be on safe side. Some editors by default use utf16 which can cause issue. One quick way to test this, is, for example in VS code, simply recreate the same content but use the local editor of vscode to create the file. Hope this helps some.

This also could be happening if you're copying code from another document (like a PDF) into your console and trying to run it.

I was trying to run some example code out of a Javascript book I'm reading and was surprised it didn't run in the console.

Apparently, copying from the PDF introduces some unexpected, illegal, and invisible characters into the code.

I changed all space areas to &nbsp, just like that and it worked without problem.

val.replace(" ", "&nbsp");

I hope it helps someone.

If you are running a nginx + uwsgi setup vagrant then the main problem is the Virtual box bug with send file as mentioned in some of the answers. However to resolve it you have to disable sendfile in both nginx and uwsgi.

1. In nginx.conf sendfile off

2. uwsgi application / config --disable-sendfile

I had this same problem and it occurred because I had hit the enter key when adding code in a text string.

Because it was a long string of text I wanted to see it all without having to scroll in my text editor, however hitting enter added an invisible character to the string which was illegal. I was using Sublime Text as my editor.