Defining Methods

Functions in JavaScript can modify global variables from the outer context. Let's see an example. We initialize a global variable to 5, and each function definition below adds 10 to it within its definition. We then print the final value. Notice that each click below will increment the variable global by 10. Here is the traditional function definition:

var global = 5;
function first(param) {
  global += 10;
  alert(param + " method shows global to be " + global);
}

Pass "first" to this function and see that you get the expected alert box with the variable global incrementing by 10.

The second way to define a function is the anonymous way. You define a function inline, without giving it a name:

second = function(param) {global += 10; alert(param +
  " method shows global to be " + global)};

Pass "second" to this function and see that you get the expected alert box, with the variable global incrementing by 10.

The third way to define a function is by constructing it with the Function function. The Function function accepts two parameters: the parameter to be passed, and the body of the function:

third = new Function("param", " global += 10; alert(param +
  ' method shows global to be ' + global)");

Pass "third" to this function and see that you get the expected alert box, showing global incrementing by 10 every time you click inside the box.

When you define an object's method, you may want to define and use a private data member. A private data member is a variable that is local to an object. It is included in the context of the object, and is a kind of global variable. Unlike the previous behavior where all function types succeeded in modifying the global variable, changing a private data member is more risky. Let's take an example. We initialize a global variable to 5, and each function definition below adds 10 within its definition. The traditional and anonymous definitions do modify the global variable, but the constructor definition does not. In fact, you get an error message when trying to access a global variable from inside the constructor definition. Notice that each click below will increment the global variable by 10. Here are the class and object definitions:

function myGlobal() {
  var global = 5;
  function first(param) {
    global += 10;
    alert(param + " method shows global to be " + global);
  }
  this.first = first;
  this.second = function(param) {global += 10;
    alert(param + " method shows global to be " + global)};

  this.third = new Function("param", " global += 10;
    alert(param + ' method shows global to be ' + global)");
}
var x = new myGlobal();

Let's try calling all methods: traditional, anonymous, and constructor.

You get an error when trying to access private data member with the constructor function. We can conclude that you need to use the traditional and anonymous function definitions in order to access private data members. The constructor definition does not support any access to private data members.

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