JavaScript: The Definitive Guide, 6th Edition

Defining Functions

Functions are defined with the function keyword, which can be used in a function definition expression (Function Definition Expressions) or in a function declaration statement (function). In either form, function definitions begin with the keyword function followed by these components:

• An identifier that names the function. The name is a required part of function declaration statements: it is used as the name of a variable, and the newly defined function object is assigned to the variable. For function definition expressions, the name is optional: if present, the name refers to the function object only within the body of the function itself.

• A pair of parentheses around a comma-separated list of zero or more identifiers. These identifiers are the parameter names for the function, and they behave like local variables within the body of the function.

• A pair of curly braces with zero or more JavaScript statements inside. These statements are the body of the function: they are executed whenever the function is invoked.

Example 8-1 shows some function definitions using both statement and expression forms. Notice that a function defined as an expression is only useful if it is part of a larger expression, such as an assignment or invocation, that does something with the newly defined function.

Example 8-1. Defining JavaScript functions

// Print the name and value of each property of o.  Return undefined.
function printprops(o) {
    for(var p in o) 
        console.log(p + ": " + o[p