Basic Javascript questions

Question

I've just finished the 2 first JS introductory courses and have a few questions after doing those, which it would be good to understand:
1) Parameter vs Argument.  The courses mentioned both - what's the difference is their a difference.  Is the parameter the variable used to copy the argument passed to the function?
2)Literal -string literal, array literal,   what does literal mean.  I first thought that was an empty version of the object, but it doesn't seem to be. Is it a constant version?
3)Objects/Dictionaries (used to python).  JS objects look like python dictionaries but they appear to only allow strings as keys and aparrently they aren't implimented as a hashtable? What does mean (vs python) in terms of their use or limitations?
4)Anonymous functions - Anonymous functions seem to be used a lot in JS. I'm not sure what the benefit where they are just used once - (why bother to have a function) - are they used to have a separate namespace instead?
eg(from Jquery course)
javascript
$("button").click(function(){
  //3.1, Show spoiler
  $(".spoiler span").show();
  //3.2, Get rid of button
});

Thanks

Jonathan Grieve · Accepted Answer

Hi there.  I can help you out with a few of those.  :)
1)  In functions a parameter is a placeholder variable (or even if you want; a placeholder value) which you declare at the function definition. So you can give a variable name inside the parentheses which you can use to perform an action.
```javascript 
function addition (paremeter1, parameter2) {}
```
An argument, is the value you're passing into the function that makes use of those parameters.
So you could pass in a 2 numbers at the function call that gives the values you want to work with.
```javascript
function addition (parameter1, parameter2) {
var adding = parameter1 + parameter2
alert(adding);
}
addition(4, 5)
```
So the last line, passes in the numbers 4 and 5 which allows the function to add the values together.
2)  To me an array literal just means the syntax for making an array in JavaScript (and other languages)
A string literal is just another word for a string, i.e.  var string = "This is a string";
3)  With an object, you can store any type of data as a value. You can even store functions as values or have an object, within an object.  I don't think there are many, if any limitations.    :-)

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Basic Javascript questions

1 Answer

Jonathan Grieve

Jonathan Grieve