Why can I not pass a function call (rather than a function reference or an anonymous function) to setTimeout()?

Question

Please ignore the fact that this code achieves nothing and apologies for what\'s probably an inane question!

I understand that I cannot pass a function call into

Answer 1

you can try this:

setTimeout(function(){printer(name)}, 1000)

Answer 2

This is because of the order of execution. If you pass a function call to setTimeout, the function will be executed immediately, i.e. the function is put on javascript's execution stack immediately.

If you pass a function name, i.e. a reference to a function, the function is only put in the javascript thread's execution stack once the timer finishes.

Answer 3

You can do it like this:

setTimeout(printer, 1000, name)

Answer 4

The correct way of passing a function reference is to use callbacks.

names.forEach(name => setTimeout(function() {
    printer(name);
}, 1000));

callbacks contains reference to the function.

setTimeout(callbackFunction, milliseconds);

Answer 5

setTimeout should take a function as its first argument.

Please refer:

https://www.w3schools.com/jsref/met_win_settimeout.asp

Here you are passing the result of the function as the first argument which is undefined.