CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javascriptfunctionmethods
user1888243
user1888243

Reputation: 2681

In JavaScript: Syntax difference between function & method definition within a class

The Object class has both methods and functions meaning they both are accessed through Object.nameOfMethodOrFunction(). The following question What is the difference between a method and a function explains the difference between a method and and a function, but it doesn't explain how to create them within an object. For example, the code below defines the method sayHi. But how do you define a function inside the same object?

var johnDoe =
{
      fName : 'John',
      lName: 'Doe',
      sayHi: function()
      {
        return 'Hi There';
      }
};

Upvotes: 5

Views: 10806

Answers (3)

Brad Christie
Brad Christie

Reputation: 101604

var johnDoe = {
  fName: 'John',
  lName: 'Doe',
  sayHi: function(){
    function message(){ return 'Hi there'; }
    return message();
  }
};

That's about as good as you're going to get with the object declaration method of creating a 'class' in JavaScript. Just keep in mind that function is only valid within sayHi's scope.

However, if you use a function as a class structure, you have a little more flexibility:

var johnDoe = function(){
  this.publicFunction = function(){
  };
  var privateFunction = function(){
  };
};
var jd = new johnDoe();
jd.publicFunction(); // accessible
jd.privateFunction(); // inaccessible

(though both are really considered methods since they have access to the object's scope within).

Upvotes: 0

Joeppie
Joeppie

Reputation: 1

Quoting Aaron with "A method is on an object. A function is independent of an object".

Logically a method is useless without a "this" defined.

Consider this example:

var johnDoe =
{
    fName: 'John',
    lName: 'Doe',
    sayHi: function () {
        return 'Hi There, my name is ' + this.fName;
    }
};

function sayHi2() {
    return 'Hi There, my last name is ' + this.lName;
}

//Will print Hi there, my first name is John
alert(johnDoe.sayHi());

//An undefined will be seen since there is no defined "this" in SayHi2.
alert(sayHi2());

//Call it properly now, using the oject johnDoe for the "this"
//Will print Hi there, my last name is Doe.
alert(sayHi2.call(johnDoe));

Upvotes: 0

Alvin Wong
Alvin Wong

Reputation: 12420

The following defines two classes, ClassA and ClassB, with equal functionality but different in nature:

function ClassA(name){
    this.name = name;
    // Defines method ClassA.say in a particular instance of ClassA
    this.say = function(){
        return "Hi, I am " + this.name;
    }
}

function ClassB(name){
    this.name = name;
}
// Defines method ClassB.say in the prototype of ClassB
ClassB.prototype.say = function(){
    return "Hi, I am " + this.name;
}

As shown below, they doesn't differ much in usage, and they are both "methods".

var a = new ClassA("Alex");
alert(a.say());
var b = new ClassB("John");
alert(b.say());

So now what you mean for "function", according to the msdn link that you gave as a comment, seems that "function" is just a "static method" like in C# or Java?

// So here is a "static method", or "function"?
ClassA.createWithRandomName = function(){
    return new ClassA("RandomName"); // Obviously not random, but just pretend it is.
}

var a2 = ClassA.createWithRandomName(); // Calling a "function"?
alert(a2.say()); // OK here we are still calling a method.

So this is what you have in your question:

var johnDoe =
{
      fName : 'John',
      lName: 'Doe',
      sayHi: function()
      {
        return 'Hi There';
      }
};

OK, this is an Object, but obviously not a class.

Upvotes: 6

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