JavaScript/Notes/Function

Functions are First-Class Objects

<source lang="javascript"> function f1() {

 alert("v");

}

function f2(func) {

 func();

}

f2(f1); </source>

Functions Double as Constructor

<source lang="javascript"> // Colorized is a constructor. function Colorized(name, favoriteColor) {

 this.name = name;
 this.favoriteColor = favoriteColor;

}

// c is an instance of Colorized. var c = new Colorized("Mary", "red"); alert(c.toString()); </source> A toString method is available on every native object. This is because toString is defined on Object.prototype and Object.prototype is at the base the prototype chain.

Functions' prototype Property

Every user-defined function gets a prototype property for free. This property is assigned to the instance's [[Prototype]] and is used for prototype inheritance, or "shared properties" of each instance. <source lang="javascript"> function Colorized(name, favoriteColor) {

 this.name = name;
 this.favoriteColor = favoriteColor;

}

// alert(Colorized.prototype); // we get prototype for free. Colorized.prototype.toString = function() {

 return this.name + ", " + this.favoriteColor;

};

var c = new Colorized("Mary", "red"); alert(c.toString()); </source>

The toString method is called by the engine when a primitive String value is required. For example, when calling the String constructor as a function, the engine finds the toString method and calls it.

<source lang="javascript"> alert( String(c) ); </source>

However, when string concatenation is performed, the hint for the primitive value is not string. Instead, the Object's valueOf may be called.

<source lang="javascript"> var o = {

 name : "Greg",
 toString : function() {
   return "[object " +this.name + "]";
 },
 valueOf : function() {
   return 10;
 }

};

alert( o + " is valued at " + (+o)); // "10 is valued at 10" </source>

Variable this

<source lang="javascript"> function Slider(dir) {

 this.dir = dir;

} Slider.prototype.move = function(d) {

 alert(this.dir + ", " + d);

}; var move = new Slider("h").move; move(1); // Explain the result. </source>

http://jsbin.com/EnocIJi/1/edit

Assignment

Function.prototype.call

1) Convert a NodeList into an Array (Hint, see lesson 1 on Array Generics). <source lang="javascript"> var nodeList = document.body.childNodes; // your code here! var nodeArray; </source> http://jsbin.com/ihISoMEc/1/edit

Function.prototype.apply

1) Write a `bind` function -- roll your own, or search MDN.

2) Using `apply`, ind the latest and earliest date value in an array of Dates and construct a new Date object, respectively. <source lang="javascript"> var mon = new Date("December 02, 2013"); var tue = new Date("December 03, 2013"); var wed = new Date("December 04, 2013"); var thu = new Date("December 05, 2013"); var fri = new Date("December 06, 2013"); var sat = new Date("December 07, 2013"); var sun = new Date("December 08, 2013");

var dates = [ thu, tue, mon, sun, fri, sat, wed ];

// your code here! var latest; var earliest; </source> Hint, see: http://ecma-international.org/ecma-262/5.1/#sec-15.8.2.11

http://jsbin.com/ABUDohO/1/edit

What does the following code do when run? Explain. <source lang="javascript"> function Duck () {

 this.sound = "Quack!";
 this.speak = function() {
   alert(this.sound);
 };

}

function Goose(){ }

Goose.prototype = {

 sound : "Honk!"

};

new Duck().speak.call(new Goose); </source> http://jsbin.com/AyAkUlu/2/edit