Function expressions

In JavaScript, a function is not a “magical language structure”, but a special kind of value.

The syntax that we used before is called a Function Declaration:

function sayHi() {
  alert( "Hello" );
}

There is another syntax for creating a function that is called a Function Expression.

It allows us to create a new function in the middle of any expression.

For example:

let sayHi = function() {
  alert( "Hello" );
};

Here we can see a variable sayHi getting a value, the new function, created as function() { alert("Hello"); }.

As the function creation happens in the context of the assignment expression (to the right side of =), this is a Function Expression.

Please note, there’s no name after the function keyword. Omitting a name is allowed for Function Expressions.

Here we immediately assign it to the variable, so the meaning of these code samples is the same: “create a function and put it into the variable sayHi”.

In more advanced situations, that we’ll come across later, a function may be created and immediately called or scheduled for a later execution, not stored anywhere, thus remaining anonymous.

Function is a value

Let’s reiterate: no matter how the function is created, a function is a value. Both examples above store a function in the sayHi variable.

We can even print out that value using alert:

function sayHi() {
  alert( "Hello" );
}

alert( sayHi ); // shows the function code

Please note that the last line does not run the function, because there are no parentheses after sayHi. There are programming languages where any mention of a function name causes its execution, but JavaScript is not like that.

In JavaScript, a function is a value, so we can deal with it as a value. The code above shows its string representation, which is the source code.

Surely, a function is a special value, in the sense that we can call it like sayHi().

But it’s still a value. So we can work with it like with other kinds of values.

We can copy a function to another variable:

function sayHi() {   // (1) create
  alert( "Hello" );
}

let func = sayHi;    // (2) copy

func(); // Hello     // (3) run the copy (it works)!
sayHi(); // Hello    //     this still works too (why wouldn't it)

Here’s what happens above in detail:

1. The Function Declaration (1) creates the function and puts it into the variable named sayHi.
2. Line (2) copies it into the variable func. Please note again: there are no parentheses after sayHi. If there were, then func = sayHi() would write the result of the call sayHi() into func, not the function sayHi itself.
3. Now the function can be called as both sayHi() and func().

We could also have used a Function Expression to declare sayHi, in the first line:

let sayHi = function() { // (1) create
  alert( "Hello" );
};

let func = sayHi;
// ...

Everything would work the same.

function sayHi() {
  // ...
}

let sayHi = function() {
  // ...
};

Callback functions

Let’s look at more examples of passing functions as values and using function expressions.

We’ll write a function ask(question, yes, no) with three parameters:

question

Text of the question

yes

Function to run if the answer is “Yes”

no

Function to run if the answer is “No”

The function should ask the question and, depending on the user’s answer, call yes() or no():

function ask(question, yes, no) {
  if (confirm(question)) yes()
  else no();
}

function showOk() {
  alert( "You agreed." );
}

function showCancel() {
  alert( "You canceled the execution." );
}

// usage: functions showOk, showCancel are passed as arguments to ask
ask("Do you agree?", showOk, showCancel);

In practice, such functions are quite useful. The major difference between a real-life ask and the example above is that real-life functions use more complex ways to interact with the user than a simple confirm. In the browser, such functions usually draw a nice-looking question window. But that’s another story.

The arguments showOk and showCancel of ask are called callback functions or just callbacks.

The idea is that we pass a function and expect it to be “called back” later if necessary. In our case, showOk becomes the callback for “yes” answer, and showCancel for “no” answer.

We can use Function Expressions to write an equivalent, shorter function:

function ask(question, yes, no) {
  if (confirm(question)) yes()
  else no();
}

ask(
  "Do you agree?",
  function() { alert("You agreed."); },
  function() { alert("You canceled the execution."); }
);

Here, functions are declared right inside the ask(...) call. They have no name, and so are called anonymous. Such functions are not accessible outside of ask (because they are not assigned to variables), but that’s just what we want here.

Such code appears in our scripts very naturally, it’s in the spirit of JavaScript.

Function Expression vs Function Declaration

Let’s formulate the key differences between Function Declarations and Expressions.

First, the syntax: how to differentiate between them in the code.

• Function Declaration: a function, declared as a separate statement, in the main code flow:

  // Function Declaration
  function sum(a, b) {
    return a + b;
  }

• Function Expression: a function, created inside an expression or inside another syntax construct. Here, the function is created on the right side of the “assignment expression” =:

  // Function Expression
  let sum = function(a, b) {
    return a + b;
  };

The more subtle difference is when a function is created by the JavaScript engine.

A Function Expression is created when the execution reaches it and is usable only from that moment.

Once the execution flow passes to the right side of the assignment let sum = function… – here we go, the function is created and can be used (assigned, called, etc. ) from now on.

Function Declarations are different.

A Function Declaration can be called earlier than it is defined.

For example, a global Function Declaration is visible in the whole script, no matter where it is.

That’s due to internal algorithms. When JavaScript prepares to run the script, it first looks for global Function Declarations in it and creates the functions. We can think of it as an “initialization stage”.

And after all Function Declarations are processed, the code is executed. So it has access to these functions.

For example, this works:

sayHi("John"); // Hello, John

function sayHi(name) {
  alert( `Hello, ${name}` );
}

The Function Declaration sayHi is created when JavaScript is preparing to start the script and is visible everywhere in it.

…If it were a Function Expression, then it wouldn’t work:

sayHi("John"); // error!

let sayHi = function(name) {  // (*) no magic any more
  alert( `Hello, ${name}` );
};

Function Expressions are created when the execution reaches them. That would happen only in the line (*). Too late.

Another special feature of Function Declarations is their block scope.

In strict mode, when a Function Declaration is within a code block, it’s visible everywhere inside that block. But not outside of it.

For instance, let’s imagine that we need to declare a function welcome() depending on the age variable that we get during runtime. And then we plan to use it some time later.

If we use Function Declaration, it won’t work as intended:

let age = prompt("What is your age?", 18);

// conditionally declare a function
if (age < 18) {

  function welcome() {
    alert("Hello!");
  }

} else {

  function welcome() {
    alert("Greetings!");
  }

}

// ...use it later
welcome(); // Error: welcome is not defined

That’s because a Function Declaration is only visible inside the code block in which it resides.

Here’s another example:

let age = 16; // take 16 as an example

if (age < 18) {
  welcome();               // \   (runs)
                           //  |
  function welcome() {     //  |
    alert("Hello!");       //  |  Function Declaration is available
  }                        //  |  everywhere in the block where it's declared
                           //  |
  welcome();               // /   (runs)

} else {

  function welcome() {
    alert("Greetings!");
  }
}

// Here we're out of curly braces,
// so we can not see Function Declarations made inside of them.

welcome(); // Error: welcome is not defined

What can we do to make welcome visible outside of if?

The correct approach would be to use a Function Expression and assign welcome to the variable that is declared outside of if and has the proper visibility.

This code works as intended:

let age = prompt("What is your age?", 18);

let welcome;

if (age < 18) {

  welcome = function() {
    alert("Hello!");
  };

} else {

  welcome = function() {
    alert("Greetings!");
  };

}

welcome(); // ok now

Or we could simplify it even further using a question mark operator ?:

let age = prompt("What is your age?", 18);

let welcome = (age < 18) ?
  function() { alert("Hello!"); } :
  function() { alert("Greetings!"); };

welcome(); // ok now

Summary

• Functions are values. They can be assigned, copied or declared in any place of the code.
• If the function is declared as a separate statement in the main code flow, that’s called a “Function Declaration”.
• If the function is created as a part of an expression, it’s called a “Function Expression”.
• Function Declarations are processed before the code block is executed. They are visible everywhere in the block.
• Function Expressions are created when the execution flow reaches them.

In most cases when we need to declare a function, a Function Declaration is preferable, because it is visible prior to the declaration itself. That gives us more flexibility in code organization, and is usually more readable.

So we should use a Function Expression only when a Function Declaration is not fit for the task. We’ve seen a couple of examples of that in this chapter, and will see more in the future.