The effect of parenthesis with `this` binding in javascript

Question

I encounter a very tricky case:

class C {
  // class method are implicit in strict mode by default
  static method() { return this === undefined; }  
}

C.me         


        

Answer 1

When you use the comma operator in JavaScript, both operands are evaluated, and then the right-most value is returned. The evaluated function value that comes out of the parentheses has no context of where it came from. This can be likened to assigning a value to a variable, where the right-hand side of the assignment operator = is evaluated before the value is assigned:

(0, C.method)();
//  ^^^^^^^^ evaluates here

var func = C.method;
//         ^^^^^^^^ evaluates here
func();

Once a function is put into a variable, it loses all context of what object it came from (unless bind is used). This context is important to determining the value of this. When a function is called without being the member of an object, it defaults to the global object, or undefined if the function is in strict mode. (MDN)

Answer 2

That's because C.method returns a reference like

{ base: C, referencedName: "method", strict: strictFlag }

When you call it, JS obtains the function using GetValue with that reference, and provides the base of the reference (C) as the this value.

CallExpression : MemberExpression Arguments

 1. Let ref be the result of evaluating MemberExpression. // <-- The reference
 2. Let func be ? GetValue(ref).                          // <-- The function
 4. If Type(ref) is Reference, then
    a. If IsPropertyReference(ref) is true, then
       i. Let thisValue be GetThisValue(ref).             // <-- C

However, when you use the comma operator, you directly get the function, not the reference.

Expression : Expression , AssignmentExpression

 1. Let lref be the result of evaluating Expression.
 2. Perform ? GetValue(lref).                             // <-- 0
 3. Let rref be the result of evaluating AssignmentExpression.
 4. Return ? GetValue(rref).                              // <-- The function

Since there is no reference, JS can't know the base object, so when you call it provides undefined as the this value.

CallExpression : MemberExpression Arguments

 1. Let ref be the result of evaluating MemberExpression. // <-- The function
 2. Let func be ? GetValue(ref).                          // <-- The function
 5. Else Type(ref) is not Reference,
    1. Let thisValue be undefined.                        // <-- undefined