Debugging is a big part of what engineers do every day.

Sometimes, we're looking for mistakes even as we write our own code.

Since finding and fixing errors is so important, it matters which debugging techniques you know.

Here are some tips to make you a breakthrough developer.

Use Chrome DevTools Like a Pro

Use Conditional Breakpoints

Right-click on a breakpoint in the Sources panel, choose 'Edit breakpoint', and type in a JavaScript condition. This makes the debugger stop only when the condition is true. This is super helpful for catching hard-to-find bugs in loops or complicated conditions.

Performance Profiling

Go to the Performance tab and record how your page loads and reacts. This helps you see where your code slows down. Try to make JavaScript run faster to get better performance.

Network Throttling

Use the Network panel to see how your app works under different internet speeds. This is key to making your app load faster and handle data better.

Advanced Console Commands

Many people still use only the console.log command, which is fine, but you can do more.

console.table()

This command shows arrays or objects in a table format. It's great for looking at large sets of data clearly.

console.group() and console.groupEnd()

These commands let you organize related logs together. You can make them show or hide, which is useful for keeping track of many logs at once.

console.assert()

This command shows an error message in the console if something you check is false. Use it to make sure things are working right as your code runs.

Logging and Monitoring

Effective logging and monitoring help you know how your application acts and stop problems before they start.

Use Structured Logging

Instead of just text, use structured logging to keep your logs neat and easy to search. This means logging in a set format (like JSON), which makes it easier to look at your data and find errors.

Winston is a free tool that helps you do structured logging.

Set Up Real-time Monitoring

Keep an eye on how your application performs all the time. Prometheus is a free tool that lets you watch your performance and spot problems quickly.

Bring Logs Together

Putting logs from different places together makes it easier to debug. The ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) is a free tool set that helps you gather logs and see your data clearly.

Set Up Smart Alerts

Smart alerts keep you informed about big issues without too much noise. The open-source Alertmanager works with Prometheus to manage your alerts and make sure you and your team know about important problems right away.

As we've learned, better debugging skills make you a faster and smarter developer. Using advanced tools in Chrome DevTools, structured logging, and real-time monitoring can help you build stronger, easier-to-maintain software and earn recognition from your peers.