CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javascriptfunctionobject
dramasea
dramasea

Reputation: 3490

why if i passed objects into a function, i need not to declare the function arguments in javascript

The below is the code:

 function createComparisonFunction(propertyName){

         return function(object1, object2){
             var value1 = object1[propertyName];
             var value2 = object2[propertyName];

            if(value1 < value2){
                return -1;
            }else if(value1 > value2){
                return 1;
            }else{
                return 0;
            }
         };
    }

    var data = [{name: "Zachary", age: 28}, {name: "Nicholas", age: 29}];

    data.sort(createComparisonFunction("name")); 
    alert(data[0].name);

    data.sort(createComparisonFunction("age"));
    alert(data[0].name);

As you can see the createCompatisonFunction is filled in with value called name and as you can see inside this function, there's object1 and object2. Can I ask what does these arguments pass in with? Do you catch me?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 135

Answers (3)

John Hartsock
John Hartsock

Reputation: 86902

Your code for the function createComparisonFunction is a function that returns a function.

In essence your code is no different than the following expanded out:

var data = [{name: "Zachary", age: 28}, {name: "Nicholas", age: 29}];

data.sort(function(object1, object2){
  var value1 = object1["name"];
  var value2 = object2["name"];
  if(value1 < value2){
    return -1;
  }else if(value1 > value2){
    return 1;
  }else{
    return 0;
  }
}); 

alert(data[0].name);

data.sort(function(object1, object2){
  var value1 = object1["age"];
  var value2 = object2["age"];
  if(value1 < value2){
    return -1;
  }else if(value1 > value2){
    return 1;
  }else{
    return 0;
  }
});
alert(data[0].name);

And the purpose of creating the createComparisonFunction(propertyName) is to refactor copy and pasted code into one area allowing for easier management of code. Also note if your data object also contained a propery called "lastname" this one function could also be used to sort by LastName. Basically the one function is far more robust than copying and pasting code.

Upvotes: 1

z33m
z33m

Reputation: 6053

when sorting elements in data the sorting algorithm will have to perform elementary comparison between two elements to determine which one is greater than the other. The sort method of array objects, supplies the comparison function the two objects that it wants to compare. Basically you are defining a < operator of sorts for your object.

Upvotes: 3

Raynos
Raynos

Reputation: 169551

Array.prototype.sort accepts a function that is defined as such

function(left, right) {
    return new Number();
}

The sorting function is passed two elements of the array and you return a number stating in which order they should go.

If the left element needs to go before right then just return -1 otherwise return 1 if right is supposed to come before left.

return 0 if it does not matter.

In your case object1 and object2 are {name: "Zachary", age: 28} and {name: "Nicholas", age: 29} respectively.

Upvotes: 2

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