JavaScript Programming Programming Languages Web Development
Functions in JavaScript
October 27, 2018 Tanmay Sakpal 0 Comments functions in javascript, javascript functions, javascript
fundamentals
Functions are one of the fundamental building blocks in JavaScript.
A function is a JavaScript procedure—a set of statements that performs a task
or calculates a value.
A JavaScript function is a block of code designed to perform a particular task.
A JavaScript function is executed when “something” invokes it (calls it).
JavaScript Function Syntax –
A JavaScript function is defined with the function keyword, followed by a name, followed
by parentheses (). Function names can contain letters, digits, underscores, and dollar signs
(same rules as variables). The parentheses may include parameter names separated by
commas:
(parameter1, parameter2, …)
The code to be executed, by the function, is placed inside curly brackets: {}
1function name(parameter1, parameter2, parameter3) {
2 code to be executed
3}
Function parameters are listed inside the parentheses () in the function
definition.
Function arguments are the values received by the function when it is
invoked.
Inside the function, the arguments (the parameters) behave as local variables.
Function Invocation –
The code inside the function will execute when “something” invokes (calls) the function:
When an event occurs (when a user clicks a button)
When it is invoked (called) from JavaScript code
Automatically (self invoked)
Function Return –
When JavaScript reaches a return statement, the function will stop executing. If the function
was invoked from a statement, JavaScript will “return” to execute the code after the invoking
statement. Functions often compute a return value. The return value is “returned” back to the
“caller”:
1var x = myFunction(4, 3); // Function is called, return value will end
2up in x
3
4function myFunction(a, b) {
5 return a * b; // Function returns the product of a and b
}
Output –
112
Program Example 2 –
1 <html>
2 <head>
3 <title>Functions in JS</title>
4 <script type="text/javascript">
5 /*Q1) write a function to add 2 numbers and print the result */
6 function addNumber(a , b)
7{
8 var total = a+b;
9 return total;
10}
11var output = addNumber(4,2); // function call
12document.write("<h1>The total is : "+output+"</h1>");
13</script>
14</head>
15<body>
16</body>
17</html>
18
Output –
1The total is : 6
Why Functions?
You can reuse code: Define the code once, and use it many times.
You can use the same code many times with different arguments, to produce
different results.