JavaScript Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟Using Functions as "Function" Objects

∟Creating Function Objects with the "function" Operator

This section provides a tutorial example on how to create a Function object with a 'function' operator. A function defined with a 'function' operator is also called function literal or expression.

By definition, a function is an object instance of the Function object type. In previous sections, we learned how to create a function with the Function constructor.

A function can also be created with the "function" operator:

function [function_name](parameter_1, parameter_2, ...) {
   statement_1; 
   statement_2;
   ...
   return return_expression
};

The "function" operator actually does only 2 things:

• Created a Function object.
• Named the Function object with "function_name". If no name is provided, the Function object will have no name.

A function defined with the "function" operator is also called a function literal or a function expression.

A function defined with the "function" operator should be assigned to a variable. Otherwise, it will be accessible outside the expression where the operator is used.

The tutorial example below shows you how to use the "function" operator to create a Function object:

// Function_Operator.js
// Copyright (c) 2008 by Dr. Herong Yang, http://www.herongyang.com/

// A function with no reference variable and no name
   function() { println('Apple'); };
   // no way to call it outside the expression
   
   // call it as part of the expression is ok
   (function() { println('Banana'); }).call(this);

// A function with a reference variable and no name
   var orange = function() { println('Orange'); };
   orange();

// A function with a reference variable and a name
   var hello = function allo() { println('Hello'); };
   hello();
   // allo(); // calling by function name is not allowed!

// A function with a reference variable, a parameter and no name
   var f2c = function (fahrenheit) {
      println("Converting Fahrenheit = "+fahrenheit);
      var celsius = (fahrenheit - 32.0 ) / 1.8;
      println("Returning Celsius = "+celsius);
      return celsius;
      };
   f2c(70.0);

Run this JavaScript file with "jrunscript" in a command window, you will get:

Banana
Orange
Hello
Converting Fahrenheit = 70
Returning Celsius = 21.11111111111111

Table of Contents

 About This JavaScript Tutorial Example Book

 Introduction to JavaScript

 ECMAScript Language Specification and JavaScript Dialects

 Data Types, Variables and Expressions

 Flow Control Statements

 Creating, Accessing, and Manipulating Arrays

 Defining and Calling Functions

 Web Browser Supporting JavaScript

 Server-Side and Client-Side Web Scripting

 Introduction to Objects

 Defining Your Own Object Types

 Inheritance of Properties and Methods through the Prototype Object Chain

 'jrunscript' - JavaScript Shell Command from JDK

►Using Functions as "Function" Objects

 Functions Are Objects of the "Function" Type

 Using the Function Constructor

 Function Object Inherited Properties and Methods

 Function Object Instance Properties

 Creating Function Objects with "function" Statements

►Creating Function Objects with the "function" Operator

 Comparing 3 Ways of Creating Functions

 Introduction to Built-in Object Types

 W3C's Document Object Model (DOM) Specifications

 References

 PDF Printing Version