Hidden Features of JavaScript? [closed]

Answer 1

Private variables with a Public Interface

It uses a neat little trick with a self-calling function definition. Everything inside the object which is returned is available in the public interface, while everything else is private.

var test = function () {
    //private members
    var x = 1;
    var y = function () {
        return x * 2;
    };
    //public interface
    return {
        setx : function (newx) {
            x = newx;
        },
        gety : function () {
            return y();
        }
    }
}();

assert(undefined == test.x);
assert(undefined == test.y);
assert(2 == test.gety());
test.setx(5);
assert(10 == test.gety());