JavaScript Syntax for creating a function?

Question

I'm reading a piece of code that is built like this:

var Template = function() { return `<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
  <document>
  //other stuff
  </document>`
}

The function is used in another file by doing

var resource = Template.call(self);

Coming from a C++/Objective-C/Swift background, I am guessing it's a function named Template and returns whatever the stuff inside is. Could someone advise me what this construct is supposed to be?

Yes, that's a function expression. The thing inside of it is an ES6 template string (doing string interpolation). — Bergi
– Bergi, Commented Sep 13, 2015 at 20:35
This thread might help you - var functionName = function() {} vs function functionName() {} — Ori Drori
– Ori Drori, Commented Sep 13, 2015 at 20:48

Axel Amthor · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-13 20:50:42Z

3

Within the body of a script,

var x = function() { };

is equivalent to

function x() { }

as the first is a variable declaration with a function body assigned, it should be terminated by a ; other than a function definition.

The reason doing something like this is, that the variable scope applies. Having this inside a function

function a() {


      var x = function () { ... };

}

means, that function x isn't defined outside of a; calling x outside of a results in a reference error.

answered Sep 13, 2015 at 20:50

Axel Amthor

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