Refer to javascript function from within itself

Question

Consider this piece of code

var crazy = function() {
    console.log(this);
    console.log(this.isCrazy); // wrong.
}
crazy.isCrazy = \'totally\';
crazy();
         


        

Answer 1

how can I get the function to refer to itself?

The idea of 'itself' does not exist with functions. What you need is an object and not just a function. An object has knowledge of itself available through the keyword 'this'. Within a function, 'this' points to the global object - in this case the window object. But if you use your function as a constructor function to create an object (using the new operator) then the object's 'this' pointer will point to the object itself.

i.e this points to the object if you write:

var anObject = new crazy();

So you can re-write your code as follows:

var crazy = function() {
    this.printMe = function(){
        console.log(this);
        console.log(this.isCrazy); 
    }
}

var anObject = new crazy(); //create an object
anObject.isCrazy = 'totally'; //add a new property to the object
anObject.printMe(); //now print

In case you wish to add the property before the object is created, then you have to add the property to the function's prototype as follows:

var crazy = function() {
    console.log(this);
    console.log(this.isCrazy); 
}

crazy.prototype.isCrazy = 'totally'; //add the property to the function's prototype
var anObject = new crazy(); //invoke the constructor

See more on my blog for a detailed explanation of these concepts with code-samples.