Fix JavaScript Global Access (no-globals)

Fixes no-globals errors in JavaScript files that the UI5 linter detects but cannot auto-fix. Run npx @ui5/linter --details to get replacement suggestions and documentation links.

Key Rules — Read Before Applying Any Fix

1. jQuery/$ globals — preserve jQuery API calls: When fixing jQuery/$ globals, ONLY add the sap/ui/thirdparty/jquery dependency and replace $ with jQuery. Do NOT replace standard jQuery API calls (jQuery.each, jQuery.extend, jQuery.proxy, jQuery.isEmptyObject, etc.) with native JavaScript equivalents. These are standard jQuery methods, not deprecated SAP APIs.

2. Case 9/10 — fix ALL globals in a single pass: When converting a file from jQuery.sap.declare/require to sap.ui.define (Case 9 or 10), you MUST also fix ALL other global-access patterns inside the file body in the same pass. There is no second pass — everything must be handled at once. Read the "Apply ALL Applicable Cases in a Single Pass" section below.

3. Dead code — delete, don't import: If a global assignment stores a value that is never read anywhere else in the file (e.g., this.BarColor = sap.ui.core.BarColor where this.BarColor never appears again), delete the entire statement. Do NOT add an import for it.

4. No intermediate forms for byId in controllers: sap.ui.getCore().byId("prefix--id") or jQuery("#prefix--id").control(0) inside a controller → this.byId("id") directly. Never leave it as Element.getElementById("prefix--id"). After replacing, remove unused Element or jQuery imports.

5. merge, not deepExtend: jQuery.sap.extend(true, ...) → merge() from sap/base/util/merge. The module sap/base/util/deepExtend does NOT exist.

Fix Strategies by Case

1. Assignments to Global Namespaces

Problem: Code creates custom namespaces on the global sap object.

// Before
sap.ui.demo = sap.ui.demo || {};
sap.ui.demo.myApp = { formatter: function() { ... } };

// After — convert to AMD module
sap.ui.define("sap/ui/demo/myApp", [], function() {
    "use strict";
    return { formatter: function() { ... } };
});

1b. Global Namespace Assignment Inside sap.ui.define

Problem: File is already in sap.ui.define but still assigns to a global namespace and returns the global reference (leftover from jQuery.sap.declare removal).

Not reported by linter — search manually: grep -rl "your\.project\.namespace\." webapp/ --include="*.js"

// Before
sap.ui.define([], function() {
    "use strict";
    com.example.app.utils.MyScripts = { runTests: function() { ... } };
    return com.example.app.utils.MyScripts;
});

// After — local variable replaces global assignment
sap.ui.define([], function() {
    "use strict";
    var MyScripts = { runTests: function() { ... } };
    return MyScripts;
});

Key rules: Extract short name from namespace end. Use var ShortName (scoping is essential). Replace all references to the full namespace within the file.

1c. Global Namespace Read-Only Reference Inside sap.ui.define

Problem: File reads from a global namespace via variable assignment instead of importing the module as a dependency.

Not reported by linter — search: grep -rn "var .* = your\.project\.namespace\." webapp/ --include="*.js"

// Before
sap.ui.define(["sap/ui/core/mvc/Controller"], function(Controller) {
    var Helper = com.example.app.utils.Helper;
    // ...
});

// After — add as dependency, remove local var assignment
sap.ui.define([
    "com/example/app/utils/Helper",
    "sap/ui/core/mvc/Controller"
], function(Helper, Controller) {
    // Helper is now available via dependency parameter
});

Key rules:

1. Convert dot-notation to slash-notation: com.example.app.utils.Helper → "com/example/app/utils/Helper"
2. Add to dependency array at the beginning (see Notes), add corresponding parameter
3. Remove the var X = global.namespace.X; line
4. If multiple global reads exist, add all as dependencies in one pass
5. Verify parameter name matches the module's short name
6. Atomicity: Every global→local replacement MUST be paired with a sap.ui.define dependency. Cycles introduced here are resolved later by fix-cyclic-deps
7. Post-fix validation: Grep for every introduced variable name — confirm it resolves to a parameter, var/let/const, or sap.ui.require call

Before replacing, read the target module's return statement:

Module's return	How to use the dependency parameter
Returns a class	new MyClass() or MyClass.staticMethod()
Returns a wrapper	MyModule.getInstance()
Returns an instance	myInstance.method() directly
Returns nothing (side-effect only)	Fix the target module first — add a return

Side-effect modules: If the target ends with }); without a return, open it, replace the global namespace assignment with a local var, and add return varName;. Then import normally in the consuming module.

2. sap.ui.getCore() Calls

Problem: sap.ui.getCore() is deprecated; its methods have moved to dedicated modules.

// Before — standalone init script (NOT a controller)
sap.ui.getCore().attachInit(function() { ... });

// After
sap.ui.define(["sap/ui/core/Core"], function(Core) {
    Core.ready().then(function() { ... });
});

Note: Core.ready() is for boot-phase init scripts. Inside controllers, UI5 is already initialized — don't use it there.

Key replacements (full table in references/core-api-replacements.md):

Deprecated	Module	Call
sap.ui.getCore().attachInit(fn)	sap/ui/core/Core	Core.ready().then(fn)
sap.ui.getCore().byId(id)	sap/ui/core/Element	Element.getElementById(id) — in controllers prefer this.byId()
sap.ui.getCore().getEventBus()	sap/ui/core/EventBus	EventBus.getInstance()
sap.ui.getCore().getLibraryResourceBundle(lib)	sap/ui/core/Lib	Lib.getResourceBundleFor(lib)

Use the UI5 MCP Server's get_api_reference tool for additional Core method replacements.

3. sap.ui.core.Core Direct Access

Add sap/ui/core/Core to the dependency array and remove the global access:

// Before: var Core = sap.ui.core.Core;
// After: add "sap/ui/core/Core" to deps, use Core parameter directly

4. jQuery/$ Global Access

IMPORTANT: The fix is adding the import, NOT replacing jQuery API calls. jQuery.sap.* (with .sap.) = deprecated, must be replaced (Case 4b). jQuery.* (without .sap.) or jQuery(...) = standard jQuery, keep as-is.

// Before
jQuery("#el").addClass("x");
$(".container").css("display", "block");
jQuery.each(items, function(i, item) { ... });

// After — add dependency, rename $ to jQuery, keep all API calls unchanged
sap.ui.define([..., "sap/ui/thirdparty/jquery"], function(..., jQuery) {
    jQuery("#el").addClass("x");
    jQuery(".container").css("display", "block");
    jQuery.each(items, function(i, item) { ... });
});

NEVER replace these standard jQuery methods — they are not deprecated in UI5: jQuery.each, jQuery.extend, jQuery.proxy, jQuery.isEmptyObject, jQuery.isArray, jQuery.inArray, jQuery.grep, jQuery.map, jQuery.type, jQuery.trim.

4a. jQuery DOM Lookup for UI5 Controls → this.byId()

Problem: jQuery("#prefix--id").control(0) or Element.closestTo() to get a UI5 control inside a controller.

Detection patterns — all collapse to this.byId("<local-id>"):

• jQuery("#<anything>--<id>").control(0)
• Element.closestTo(jQuery("#<anything>--<id>")[0])
• sap.ui.getCore().byId("<full-id>") where ID contains view prefix
• Element.getElementById("<full-id>") where ID contains --

The local ID is the part after the last --. After replacing, remove unused jQuery/Element imports.

4b. jQuery.sap.* Utility Access

Problem: jQuery.sap.* calls are deprecated UI5 utilities with dedicated replacement modules.

// Before
jQuery.sap.log.info("msg");
var sId = jQuery.sap.uid();

// After
sap.ui.define([..., "sap/base/Log", "sap/base/util/uid"], function(..., Log, uid) {
    Log.info("msg");
    var sId = uid();
});

Run npx @ui5/linter --details for suggested replacements. Full table in references/core-api-replacements.md.

jQuery.sap.extend decision:

• Deep copy (true as first arg) → sap/base/util/merge → merge({}, obj1, obj2)
• Flat objects (single-level properties) → Object.assign({}, obj1, obj2) (no import needed)
• NEVER convert to jQuery.extend(...) (introduces unnecessary dependency)
• NEVER use sap/base/util/deepExtend (does NOT exist)

5. Conditional/Probing Global Access

Problem: Code checks if a global exists: if (sap.ui.fl && sap.ui.fl.Utils) { ... }

Fix: For always-available modules, add as sap.ui.define dependency. For truly optional modules, use synchronous sap.ui.require:

var FlUtils = sap.ui.require("sap/ui/fl/Utils");
if (FlUtils) { FlUtils.getComponentClassName(this); }

For lazy loading, use async: sap.ui.require(["module/path"], function(Mod) { ... }).

6. Custom Namespace Definitions

Same pattern as Case 1 but for non-SAP namespaces (window.mycompany.myapp = {...}). Convert to sap.ui.define module returning the object. Consumers import via dependency.

7. Binding Type Strings Without Import

// Before — global reference as string
value: { path: "/amount", type: "sap.ui.model.type.Float" }

// After — import type module, use class reference
value: { path: "/amount", type: new FloatType() }  // FloatType from "sap/ui/model/type/Float"

8. Delete Expressions

delete sap.ui.core.someTempProperty — usually a code smell. Remove entirely or use a local object.

9. sap.ui.controller() — Controller Definition via Global Factory

Scope: Plain controller definitions. NOT Fiori Elements V2 extensions (use fix-fiori-elements-extensions for those).

Detection: grep -rn 'sap\.ui\.controller(' webapp/ --include="*.js"

• Two arguments sap.ui.controller("name", {...}) = definition → fix here
• One argument sap.ui.controller("name") = instance lookup → document in MODERNIZATION-ISSUES.md

Pattern A: Inside existing sap.ui.define

// Before
sap.ui.define(["sap/m/MessageBox"], function(MessageBox) {
    return sap.ui.controller("my.app.controller.Main", { ... });
});

// After — add Controller dep, replace factory with extend
sap.ui.define([
    "sap/ui/core/mvc/Controller",
    "sap/m/MessageBox"
], function(Controller, MessageBox) {
    return Controller.extend("my.app.controller.Main", { ... });
});

Pattern B: Without sap.ui.define (legacy module system)

// Before
jQuery.sap.declare("my.app.controller.Detail");
jQuery.sap.require("sap.ui.core.mvc.Controller");
sap.ui.controller("my.app.controller.Detail", { onInit: function() { ... } });

// After
sap.ui.define(["sap/ui/core/mvc/Controller"], function(Controller) {
    "use strict";
    return Controller.extend("my.app.controller.Detail", { onInit: function() { ... } });
});

Steps: Remove jQuery.sap.declare/require. Wrap in sap.ui.define. Convert dot-notation deps to slash-notation. Replace sap.ui.controller with Controller.extend. Add return. Add "use strict". Apply all inline fixes to file body (see "Apply ALL" section).

Edge cases

• Missing return: Controller.extend() only returns the class — always add return before it
• Module-level variables before definition: Keep as-is, just wrap the extend call with return
• Controller name must match file path: Keep existing name even if mismatched (may be intentional)
• Mixed file (definition + instance lookups): Fix the definition, document instance lookups in MODERNIZATION-ISSUES.md

10. jQuery.sap.declare/require — Legacy Module Definitions

Same structural conversion as Case 9 Pattern B but for non-controller modules:

// Before
jQuery.sap.declare("my.app.util.Formatter");
jQuery.sap.require("sap.ui.core.format.DateFormat");
my.app.util.Formatter = { formatDate: function(oDate) { ... } };

// After
sap.ui.define(["sap/ui/core/format/DateFormat"], function(DateFormat) {
    "use strict";
    return { formatDate: function(oDate) { ... } };
});

Key rules: Remove jQuery.sap.declare. Convert jQuery.sap.require to deps. Remove global assignment, return the object. If already has sap.ui.define, merge remaining requires into existing dep array. Dynamic/conditional requires → sap.ui.require(["..."], callback). Multiple declares or unclear exports → flag for manual review. Apply all inline fixes (see "Apply ALL" section).

11. Runtime Globals as Module Imports

Problem: Runtime modules like sap.ushell.Container accessed via global namespace chains.

// Before
if (sap.ushell && sap.ushell.Container) {
    sap.ushell.Container.getService("CrossApplicationNavigation");
}

// After — add as dependency
sap.ui.define(["sap/ushell/Container", ...], function(Container, ...) {
    if (Container && Container.getService) {
        Container.getService("CrossApplicationNavigation");
    }
});

Test-side: Stub the imported module directly with sinon. Do NOT set up global namespace chains (window.sap.ushell = {...}). sinon and QUnit are Test Starter globals — no import needed.

sap.ui.define(["sap/ushell/Container"], function(Container) {
    var oSandbox = sinon.createSandbox();
    QUnit.test("...", function(assert) {
        oSandbox.stub(Container, "setDirtyFlag");
        // ...
    });
});

12. Sync XHR Guards After jQuery.sap.sjax Modernization

After modernizing jQuery.sap.sjax to native XMLHttpRequest, always guard xhr.responseText with a status check:

var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhr.open("GET", sUrl, false);
xhr.send();
if (xhr.readyState === 4 && xhr.status === 200) {
    var oData = JSON.parse(xhr.responseText);
} else {
    Log.error("Failed to load: " + sUrl);
}

Context	Fallback on failure
Mock server response handler	oXhr.respondJSON(200, {}, JSON.stringify({"d": {"results": []}}))
JSON.parse of response	Return {} (lets existing if (oResponse.data) guards work)
Init-time config loading	Early return with Log.error(...)

CRITICAL: Apply ALL Applicable Cases in a Single Pass

When a file triggers Case 9 or 10, fix ALL global-access patterns in the same pass:

1. jQuery("#...") or jQuery(...) calls? → Case 4a or 4
2. sap.ui.getCore().byId(...) calls? → Case 2, then Case 4a if in controller
3. jQuery.sap.* calls? → Case 4b
4. sap.ui.model.*, sap.m.*, sap.ui.core.* inline class references? → dependency imports
5. App-namespace global references? → dependency imports
6. Unused imports after replacements? → remove from dep array and parameters
7. this.X = importedModule.X where this.X is never read elsewhere? → DELETE (dead code)

Implementation Steps

1. Run npx @ui5/linter --details to get replacement suggestions
2. Identify error pattern and determine case type
3. Apply the appropriate transformation (add deps, replace globals, remove dead code)
4. After replacing jQuery DOM lookups with this.byId(), remove unused imports
5. Verify no other files depend on a removed global assignment

Notes

• Dependency insertion position — critical: Always add new dependencies at the beginning of the array (and corresponding parameters at the beginning of the function). Many legacy files have dep/param count mismatches (trailing side-effect imports without parameters). Inserting at the end shifts existing mappings; inserting at the beginning preserves them.

  // Before (3 deps, 2 params — mismatch is common in legacy code)
  sap.ui.define(["sap/ui/core/mvc/Controller", "sap/m/MessageToast", "some/sideEffect/Module"
  ], function(Controller, MessageToast) { ... });
  
  // After — new dep added at BEGINNING
  sap.ui.define(["sap/ui/core/Element", "sap/ui/core/mvc/Controller", "sap/m/MessageToast", "some/sideEffect/Module"
  ], function(Element, Controller, MessageToast) { ... });
  

• Parameter names should match the module's default export name (e.g., Log for sap/base/Log)

• QUnit, sinon are intentionally allowed globals in test files

• sap.ui.define, sap.ui.require, sap.ui.loader.config are allowed globals

• Use sap.ui.require("module/path") (sync, returns undefined if not loaded) for optional deps

• Use sap.ui.require(["module/path"], callback) (async) for lazy loading

Example Fix Session

For a comprehensive before/after example combining multiple case types, read references/example-fix-session.md.

Related Skills

• fix-fiori-elements-extensions: For sap.ui.controller() in Fiori Elements V2 apps with registerControllerExtensions or manifest sap.ui.controllerExtensions
• fix-pseudo-modules: For no-pseudo-modules and no-implicit-globals errors (enum imports, DataType imports, OData expression functions)
• fix-control-renderer: For renderer-specific issues (no-deprecated-control-renderer-declaration, apiVersion, IconPool, rerender)
• fix-xml-globals: For no-globals in XML views/fragments (formatters, event handlers via core:require)
• fix-linter-blind-spots: For runtime-breaking global namespace patterns the linter doesn't detect (app-specific namespaces outside sap.*). Cases 1b and 1c overlap with patterns 1-4 in that skill.
• fix-cyclic-deps: When Case 1c fixes would create cyclic dependencies, use lazy sap.ui.require instead of normal sap.ui.define deps