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JavaScript jQuery Basics (2014) Creating a Simple Lightbox Perform: Part 3

Posted by Javid Abbasov
Javid Abbasov
9,243 Points

why??

Hi everyone. Why cant we use $overlay.click().hide(); instead of

$overlay.click(function() { $(this).hide(); }); ? must we use functions? and how can i know, whether i should use function or not?

2 Answers

Claudio Salatino
Claudio Salatino
4,887 Points
Claudio Salatino
Claudio Salatino
4,887 Points

If I got your question right I think it's because click() is an event handler which requires a callback function as an argument to make sure a certain action is performed after an element is clicked. $(this) represents the element on which the event is triggered, in this case, the overlay.

Adam Pengh
Adam Pengh
29,881 Points
Adam Pengh
Adam Pengh
29,881 Points

Hi Javid Abbasov,

A good way to think about it is in a cause and effect way. For example, when someone clicks, you want something to happen (a function). The function is the part that actually says what should happen. jQuery has made working with JavaScript much easier, but you still need to use functions in order for anything to actually happen.