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JavaScript Build an Interactive Website Form Validation and Manipulation Checking Values

Nthulane Makgato
PLUS
Nthulane Makgato
Courses Plus Student 19,602 Points
Posted by Nthulane Makgato
Nthulane Makgato
Courses Plus Student 19,602 Points

Confusion over method and function

Hi Guys

Here is a code challenge question that generated a lot of confusion for me:

"Create a method called 'isValidEmail' that takes one argument that returns true when a string with an '@' symbol is passed, false if not."

the answer that was accepted is:

function isValidEmail(email){ return email.indexOf('@') != -1; }

My question is, why do they ask for a method when a method is a function in an object?

ie var object = { method: function(){} }

The final answer is not nested in curly braces which makes me wonder why I am asked to create a method.

I would also like to know how the answer to this question is boolean

Thanks for your input.

1 Answer

Dino Paลกkvan
Dino Paลกkvan
Courses Plus Student 44,108 Points

This is true, for most programming languages, but strictly speaking, in JavaScript, all functions are methods.

When you define a function in JavaScript (inside the global scope), it actually becomes a property of the global object. Try doing this:

function test() {
    console.log("I am actually a method.");
}

// You can invoke it "normally"
test(); // output: I am actually a method.
// You can invoke it as a method on the global object (inside a browser, that object is window)
window.test(); // output: I am actually a method.
// Or inside the global scope, you can refer to the global object by using this
this.test(); // output: I am actually a method.

I agree, the challenge wording is a bit confusing, and it's much better to refer to functions as functions and use methods for functions attached to objects, but I repeat, strictly speaking, in JavaScript, all functions are methods.