If a local variable or a local function is declared but not used, it is dead code and should be removed. Doing so will improve maintainability because developers will not wonder what the variable or function is used for.

## Noncompliant Code Example

    function numberOfMinutes(hours) {
      var seconds = 0;   // seconds is never used
      return hours * 60;
    }

## Compliant Solution

    function numberOfMinutes(hours) {
      return hours * 60;
    }