From b5e5ac021777c0ccc8d2b62711c3c2a7111132d5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Danieljeffery695 <danielgodfrey695@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2025 21:20:46 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] adding extra error handling in the length parameter

---
 index.js          |  3 +++
 package-lock.json | 13 +++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 16 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 package-lock.json

diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index dc17c14..4b268c6 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -65,9 +65,12 @@ function timelydiff(timestamp, length = null) {
 
       //if value > 1, pluralize by adding 's'
       let pluralize = trunc > 1 ? "s" : "";
+      let pattern = /^(short|shorter)$/;
 
       if (length === null) {
         return positionTime(`${trunc} ${name.def}${pluralize}`);
+      } else if (!pattern.test(length)) {
+        throw new Error("Invalid length parameter. Please use 'short' or 'shorter'.");
       }
 
       if (length === "short" || length === "shorter") {
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d576a7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "name": "timelydiff",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "lockfileVersion": 3,
+  "requires": true,
+  "packages": {
+    "": {
+      "name": "timelydiff",
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "license": "MIT"
+    }
+  }
+}