diff --git a/ck8dzlitm01atxjs1322jz9a2.md b/ck8dzlitm01atxjs1322jz9a2.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b6d58bb --- /dev/null +++ b/ck8dzlitm01atxjs1322jz9a2.md @@ -0,0 +1,118 @@ +## What is `this` inside foo.bar()? + +## The problem + +![Code showing - method which is passed as callback loses reference to original obj as this, but calling foo.bar() directly works](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1585425858545/Ut1FVXRIJ.png) + +Calling a method directly works as expected. +But when we pass a method as callback, it loses reference to the original object (as `this`) when called. + +Why is that? **Can the spec help us explain this difference?** + +------ + +## The explanation + +## For methods, + +⭐️ `foo.​bar()` translates to `foo.bar.call(foo)`. + +That is, when a method (function which is accessed as a object property) is called, the object gets passed as `this` inside the function. + +So, in this case - +**What** → foo is passed as `this` inside bar +**When** → if bar is a function and *accessed as object property* (i.e. foo.bar). + +(*Note* - We are using the [Function.call](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Function/call) method above to estimate what the language is doing internally, by passing a custom `this` value) + +## For functions, +⭐️ `fn()` translates to `fn.​call(undefined)` + +In case of a normal function call - `this` value within the function will be undefined. + +But, there is a slight catch here. In case of non-strict mode, if `this` is set to `undefined` or `null` (as above), then it is internally replaced with the global object. + +Effectively - + +| **mode** | **this value** | +|------------|---------------| +| strict | undefined | +| non-strict | global object | + + +## Method to function, + +⭐️ Now, if we were to rewrite the method call as a function call, then the value of `this` will change from `foo` (object) to either `undefined` or `global`. + +One example of this is rewriting `foo.bar()` using a intermediate variable - ` fn = foo.​bar; fn()`. + +If `bar` was referencing other values from foo using `this`, those values will become undefined or resolve to a wrong variable. + +🧠 This is exactly the reason why passing methods as callback changes the value of `this` (passed within it). Instead of calling a method directly, callback is passed as a function and called later by some other code. + +## In other words, + +⭐️ When `foo.bar` is called, the function `bar` is not aware that it is "attached" to the object foo. Based on the exact syntax of a function call, if the language can figure out a clear `someThing.someFunction()` structure, then it will happily forward someThing as this. + +But, if you take out a function from a object and call it separately, there is no way to figure out which object it was originally attached to. Hence, `this` will be undefined. + +------- + +## 📖 What does the spec say? + +TLDR - If you would like to see me actually go through the spec, this video might be more interesting. + +%[https://youtu.be/RV27K79PDuI] +[Part 1](https://youtu.be/j894fgpStZI) of the video covers previous sections. + +----- + +![EvaluateCall- if IsPropertyReference, set this to base object](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584625813403/gPjSBUHIZ.png) + +![IsPropertyReference- reference where base is object or primitive](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584625822167/ZmBSyVj95.png) + +Link - 1. https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-evaluatecall, 2. https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-ispropertyreference + +### PropertyReference + +This `foo.bar` structure is defined in the spec as a [PropertyReference](https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-ispropertyreference). +Think of PropertyReference as anything that is valid as the left side of an assignment expression, if you were assigning to the property of a object or primitive. + +PropertyReference = Reference + base is object or primitive + +![PropertyReference illustration](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1585431425436/5XBWmcI5y.png) + +Some examples of valid and invalid PropertyReference 👇 + +%[https://gist.github.com/bendtherules/3467664a9c567617342b73c3681c1dc7] + +### Steps +1. If it is a PropertyReference, then set `thisValue` to base of the PropertyReference (i.e. `foo` in `foo.bar`). +2. Or else, take thisValue from surrounding Environment Record. + +The obtained `thisValue` is forwarded to the abstract operation [Call](https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-call), which in turn verifies that the resolved value of `foo.bar` is a function and then calls the internal method [function.[[Call]]](https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-built-in-function-objects-call-thisargument-argumentslist) with the same thisValue. +This [[call]] interface is very similar to the `function.call` public interface and can be approximated with that. One small diff. we noted earlier is that [[call]] changes `this` value from undefined to global object in non-strict mode. + +Note - `foo.bar` is resolved as a string or symbol "bar" within the object `foo` - and goes through the [usual resolution process](https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-getvalue) honoring getters, proxies and prototype chains. + +## Bound function and Arrow function - +The function `foo.bar` doesn't need to be a [simple function object](https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-ecmascript-function-objects), but it can be anything with a [[call]] interface like a exotic [bound function](https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-bound-function-exotic-objects-call-thisargument-argumentslist) or a proxy. + +**Bound functions** ignore the `thisValue` that was passed in and instead uses internal [[BoundThis]] as the actual `this`. [[BoundThis]] is the custom thisValue that was passed while binding using `Function.bind`. +That is why one solution to this callback problem is to bind a function to the object before passing it as a callback. + + +**Arrow function** is a type of function object whose `this` value is resolved from the lexical scope. +Its [[call]] method ignores the received thisValue (from Call abstract method) and always resolves `this` from its lexical scope, like any other free variable in a closure. + +![thisMode in function objects](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1585433951432/jnD8M_NB3.png) +**👇 thisMode in function objects** + +It is a function object with internal [[ThisMode]] slot set to lexical. + +This can be another solution to the callback problem - creating a arrow function inside a object constructor, will ensure that `this` always resolves to the object. + +---- + +🎬 That's all! Hope you had a interesting read. +I would really appreciate if you leave some feedback 🌀 \ No newline at end of file