ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition

Function.toString() Method

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Alphabetical Language Reference

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this.funcName = name;

};

Function.prototype.toString = Function.prototype.getName;

// Usage:

function squareNum (x) {

return x * x;

}

squareNum.setName("squareNum");

trace(squareNum); // Displays: squareNum

// (instead of [type Function])

For a full discussion of prototype’s role in object-oriented ActionScript programming, see

Chapter 12. Within the advanced developer community, the

prototype property is the

focus of a lively debate on superclass assignment methodology. See “Advanced Issues with

Standard SuperClass Assignment” in Chapter 12.

See Also

Object.constructor, Object.__proto__; Chapter 12

Function.toString() Method

returns a string representation of the function object

Flash 5

theFunction.toString()

Returns

A string representing the function object.

Description

The toString( ) method returns a string describing theFunction. By default, all functions

return the string “[type Function]”. Checking the return value of toString( ) can be useful

during debugging, as it distinguishes function objects from other objects. The instanceof

and typeof operators can also be used to determine the datatype of a Function object. For

example:

function moveClipTo (newX, newY) {

this._x = newX;

this._y = newY;

}

trace(moveClipTo.toString()); // ...