Javascript built-in Function object.

Details about the Function object.

Working with the built-in Function object.

• The Function object have a prototype property which is a reference to an object that contains common properties for all created function object instances.
• All created function object instances has a hidden reference to this prototype object, and you can access the common properties directly through the function object instance variable.
• Unlike all other objects, a instantiated object from the Function object have its own prototype property inherited from the Function object.
• Javascript has given us the opportunity to create new objects out of function objects. A prototype property is of great importance in this case (look at the next session for this).
• As we have seen before, we can create a function with a literal notation syntax, which is the normal way to create a function.
• On the other hand, you can create a function object instance using the built-in "Function" object, and the "new" keyword.

  // Create an function object with the new keyword
  var add1= new Function("p1","p2","return p1+p2;")
  // p1 and p2 is the argument to the new function object
  // the last argument is the body of the new function object

• As you can see this is a cumbersome way to create a function and is also not recommended.
• You can add new common properties for all created functions.

Create common properties for all functions.

• There are two main ways to add new common properties for all function instances:
  1. Add a properties to the prototype property of the Function object.
     
     Example:

     <script type="text/javascript">
     // first we define a function, func1, using a literal notation syntax
     function func1() {} // a function that contains nothing
     // warning is a property that refer to a new function
       Function.prototype.warning=function() {
         return "This property can be used by all function object instances.";
       }
       document.write("function 1 : "+func1.warning()+"<br>");
       var func2 = new Function(); // a function that contains nothing
       document.write("function 2 : "+func2.warning()+"<br>");
     </script>

  2. Add a property to the prototype property using a created function object instance. A created function object has a property, constructor, that refer back to the constructor name of the object.

     To do it this way we use the property, prototype, on that constructor:

     Example:

     <script type="text/javascript">
       function func1() {} // a function that contains nothing
     // func1.constructor is a reference to the Function constructor in this case
       func1.constructor.prototype.warning=function() {
         return "This property can be used by all object instances.";
       }
       document.write("function 1 : "+func1.warning()+"<br>");
       var func2 = new Function(); // a function that contains nothing
       document.write("function 2 : "+func2.warning()+"<br>");
     </script>