Function Object

Article
09/14/2006

Creates a new function.

Syntax 1

function functionName([argname1 [, ...[, argnameN]]])
{
   body
}

Syntax 2

functionName = new Function( [argname1, [... argnameN,]] body );

Arguments

functionName
Required. The name of the newly created function
argname1...argnameN
Optional. A list of arguments the function accepts.
body
Optional. A string that contains the block of JScript code to be executed when the function is called.

Remarks

The function is a basic data type in JScript. Syntax 1 creates a function value that JScript converts into a Function object when necessary. JScript converts Function objects created by Syntax 2 into function values at the time the function is called.

Syntax 1 is the standard way to create new functions in JScript. Syntax 2 is an alternative form used to create function objects explicitly.

For example, to create a function that adds the two arguments passed to it, you can do it in either of two ways:

Example 1

function add(x, y)
{
   return(x + y);            //Perform addition and return results.
}

Example 2

var add = new Function("x", "y", "return(x+y)");

In either case, you call the function with a line of code similar to the following:

add(2, 3);

Note When calling a function, ensure that you always include the parentheses and any required arguments. Calling a function without parentheses causes the text of the function to be returned instead of the results of the function.

Properties

Methods

apply Method | call Method | toString Method | valueOf Method

Requirements

Version 2