title: Javascript - If Statement Returning Null Despite Condition
body: <p>I'm trying to figure out why my if statement is sending true output's despite accounting for null situations in my if statement. Can someone explain what is wrong with my conditions and the reason why null triggers for true?</p>
  
  <pre><code>if(startDate || startDate != null){
              filterQuery.push('dateStart=' + startDate);
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>outputs <code>dateStart=null</code> in instances where there is a null value.</p>