Develop Reference

is there a good way to call methods dynamically in js?

I have 2 js functions:
function onRegionMouseOver()
{
}
function onRegionMouseOut()
{
}
Is it possible to call these js functions dynamically doing something like this?:
var type = 'Out'
//the following line would exec onRegionMouseOut() above:
call(onRegionMouse[type]())

You can use this:
var onRegionMouseHandlers = {
out: function () {},
in: function () {}
}
// and using like this
var whatToUse = 'in';
// use
onRegionMouseHandlers[whatToUse]()
Also, you can remove your which choose what function have to be called. You can just add two handlers to two different events.

You can define the functions as properties of an object, use bracket notation to call the function.
const methods = {
onRegionMouseOver() {console.log("Over")},
onRegionMouseOut() {console.log("Out")}
}
let fn = "onRegionMouse";
let type = "Out";
methods[`${fn}${type}`]();
type = "Over";
methods[`${fn}${type}`]();
without template literal or let
var methods = {
onRegionMouseOver: function onRegionMouseOver() {console.log("Over")},
onRegionMouseOut: function onRegionMouseOu() {console.log("Out")}
}
var fn = "onRegionMouse";
var type = "Out";
methods[fn + type]();
type = "Over";
methods[fn + type]();

You can do something like that, provided you declare an object that contains the functions.
var onRegionMouse = {
Out: onRegionMouseOut,
Over: onRegionMouseOver
};
Now you can just do
var type = 'Out';
onRegionMouse[type]();

what about:
var myFunctions = {
out: function onMouseOut()...,
enter: function onMouseEnter()...
}
You can call it now with myFunctions[ "out" ] ()

Why would this code lead to infinite loop/recursive

I have the following javascript code:
var original_selectCallback = window.selectCallback;
var selectCallback = function(variant, selector) {
original_selectCallback(variant, selector);
console.log(variant + " " + selector);
};
Somehow, the 2nd line:
var selectCallback = function(variant, selector)
leads to a recursive call to selectCallback. My understanding is that I am redefining the selectCallback function. So why would this be a recursive call?
Any suggestions/advice is appreciated.

There is nothing inherently wrong with the code you've posted:
var selectCallback = function() { console.log('original'); };
var original_selectCallback = selectCallback;
var selectCallback = function() {
original_selectCallback();
console.log('wrapper');
};
selectCallback();
The error is likely in the initial definition of window.selectCallback, which is not shown here.

There is no recursion here and that is quite easy to demonstrate:
let someFn = function () { console.log('original'); };
let originalSomeFn = someFn;
someFn = function () {
originalSomeFn();
console.log('decorated');
};
someFn();
However, the original function may be involved in a recursive algorithm somewhere and your wrapper function might not entirely fulfill the proper behavioral contract of the original function.
To make sure here's how you should be wrapping the original function. I also opted for a closure to avoid a global originalSomeFn variable.
let someFn = function () {
console.log('original');
return 1;
};
someFn = (function (originalSomeFn) {
return function () {
let result = originalSomeFn.apply(this, arguments);
console.log('decorated');
return result;
};
})(someFn);
console.log(someFn());

Let's check your code:
var original_selectCallback = window.selectCallback;
creates new variable that refers to function selectCallback.
var selectCallback = function(variant, selector) {
creates window.selectCallback function (because it's in window scope).
Now inner part of function
original_selectCallback(variant, selector);
will call window.original_selectCallback that is same as window.selectCallback that is same function where you are now.
So you make recursion with selectCallback that never ends.

Pass HTML element to JavaScript function

I am passed 3 html elements as parameters to JS function. JS function is in separate file. I have problem to bind 'click' event with _confBtn object (which is parameter). My complete JS file:
window.HAS = window.HAS || {};
HAS.MyApp = HAS.MyApp || {};
(function (_this, $, undefined) {
var _sessionTimeOut = false;
var _startCountDown = false;
var _counterTime;
var _countDownTime;
var _dialogWrap;
var _confBtn;
var _counter;
_this.init = function (showDialogTime, logofCountDownTime, dialogWrap, counter, confirmationButton) {
_counterTime = 5;
_countDownTime = 0;
_dialogWrap = $('#' + dialogWrap);
_confBtn = $('#' + confirmationButton);
_counter = $('#' + counter);
alert(_confBtn.text());
createSessionTimeOut();
$(document).bind("mousemove keypress mousedown mouseup", resetTimeOut);
}
_confBtn.on('click', function () {
window.clearInterval(_startCountDown);
_dialogWrap.css('visibility', 'hidden');
createSessionTimeOut();
$(document).bind("mousemove keypress mousedown mouseup", resetTimeOut);
});
function createSessionTimeOut() {
_sessionTimeOut = window.setTimeout(function () {
_dialogWrap.removeAttr("style");
_counter.text(_counterTime);
$(document).unbind("mousemove keypress mousedown mouseup");
startCountDown();
}, 2000);
}
function startCountDown() {
_startCountDown = window.setInterval(function () {
if (_counterTime >= 0) {
_counter.text(_counterTime--);
}
_countDownTime++;
if (_countDownTime >= 4) {
logOutUser();
return;
}
}, 1000);
}
function resetTimeOut() {
window.clearTimeout(_sessionTimeOut);
_sessionTimeOut = false;
createSessionTimeOut();
}
function logOutUser() {
$.ajax({
url: '/MyApp/Account/LogOut',
type: 'GET',
success: function () {
document.location.href = '/MyApp/Account/Login';
}
})
}
}(window.HAS.MyApp.SessionTimeOut = window.HAS.MyApp.SessionTimeOut || {}, jQuery));
I call in separate page like in following:
SessionTimeOut.init('5', '5', 'dialog-wrap', 'confirm-button', 'counter');
I have issue with _confBtn when I try to call click event. Browser show that is undefined.
Please help.

It would probably better to do something more dynamic like this:
function SomeFunction (element1,element2) {
var e1 = $("#"+element1),
e2 = $("#"+element2);
// Do something with variables e1 and e2
}
and you would call like this:
//html:
<div id="one"><div>
<div id="two"><div>
//javasctript:
SomeFunction('one','two');

No, you are mixing a function declaration with a function call somehow. You can't provide function arguments when defining a function. This however will work fine:
function someFunction($element1, $element2) {
//Do something with the elements
}
someFunction($("#element1"), $("#element2"));
Note that $element1 and $element2 are just variable names, and the leading $ doesn't have anything to do with jQuery. It is just a common convention to identify variables referencing jQuery selections.

You can of course do it, just by using the normal jQuery way of including multiple selectors. Your code is slightly incorrect because you are actually only defining the function without calling it, and you are not supposed to pass arguments/variables into the function when defining it.
Unless you have the intention to distinguish between two groups of elements, I would refrain from declaring elements individually as you have used in your question, because sometimes you will never know the length of the selected items.
function someFunction($ele) {
// jQuery objects will be accessible as $ele
}
// Call the function
someFunction($('#selector1, #selector2'));
However, if the former is the case, you can always do so:
function someFunction($ele1, $ele2) {
// jQuery objects will be accessible as $ele1 and $ele2 respectively
// Example: $ele1.hide();
// $ele2.show();
}
// Call the function
someFunction($('#selector1'), $('#selector2'));
For example, you can refer to this proof-of-concept JSfiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/teddyrised/ozrfLwwt/
function someFunction($ele) {
// jQuery objects will be accessible as $ele
$ele.css({
'background-color': '#c8d9ff'
});
}
// Call the function
someFunction($('#selector1, #selector2'));

If you want to pass some elements to function you can use jQuery constructor to standardize arguments
function SomeFunction (element1,element2) {
element1 = $(element1);
element2 = $(element2);
// and you have 2 jQuery objects...
}
// and now you can pass selector as well as jQuery object.
SomeFunction($('div.a'),'#b');

You can pass paramters as much as you want this way. I use jQuery in this code and created a simple function.
var item=$("#item-id");
var item1=$("#item1-id");
makeReadOnly(item,item1);
function makeReadOnly(){
for(var i=0;i<arguments.length;i++){
$(arguments[i]).attr("readonly", true);
}
}

How to use prototype for custom methods and object manipulation

Honestly, I am trying to understand JavaScript prototypes and I'm not making much progress. I am not exactly sure how to explain what I am trying to do, except to say that in part my end goal is to learn how to traverse the DOM similar to jQuery and to add custom methods to manipulate particular elements being accessed.
EDIT : The code below has been updated to reflect concepts I have learned from the answers received so far, and to show where those fall short of what I am looking to accomplish.
function A(id) {
"use strict";
this.elem = document.getElementById(id);
}
A.prototype.insert = function (text) {
"use strict";
this.elem.innerHTML = text;
};
var $A = function (id) {
"use strict";
return new A(id);
};
var $B = function (id) {
"use strict";
return document.getElementById(id);
};
function init() {
"use strict";
$A('para1').insert('text goes here'); //this works
$A('para1').innerHTML = 'text goes here'; //this does not work
console.log($A('para1')); //returns the object A from which $A was constructed
console.log($B('para1')); //returns the dom element... this is what I want
/*I want to have $A('para1').insert(''); work and $A('para1').innerHTML = '';
work the same way that $B('para1').innerHTML = ''; works and still be able
to add additional properties and methods down the road that will be able
act directly on the DOM element that is contained as $A(id) while also
being able to use the properties and methods already available within
JavaScript*/
}
window.onload = init;
Where possible please add an explanation of why your code works and why you believe it is the best possible method for accomplishing this.
Note: The whole purpose of my inquiry is to learn this on my own... please do not suggest using jQuery, it defeats the purpose.

var $ = function(id) {
return new My_jquery(id);
}
function My_jquery(id) {
this.elem = document.getElementById(id);
}
My_jquery.prototype = {
insert : function(text) { this.elem.innerHtml = text; return this;}
}
$('para1').insert('hello world').insert('chaining works too');
add any method u want to operate on elem in My_jquery.prototype

You can use a scheme like the following:
function $(id) {
return new DOMNode(id);
}
function DOMNode(id) {
this.element = document.getElementById(id);
}
DOMNode.prototype.insert = function(value) {
if (value) {
// If value is a string, assume its markup
if (typeof value == 'string') {
this.element.innerHTML = value;
// Otherwise assume it's an object
} else {
// If it's a DOM object
if (typeof value.nodeName == 'string') {
this.element.appendChild(value);
// If it's a DOMNode object
} else if (this.constructor == DOMNode) {
this.element.appendChild(value.element);
}
}
} // If all fails, do nothing
}
$('id').insert('foo bar');
Some play stuff:
<div id="d0">d0</div>
<div id="d1">d1</div>
<div id="d2">d2</div>
<script>
// insert (replace content with) string, may or may not be HTML
$('d0').insert('<b>foo bar</b>');
// insert DOMNode object
$('d0').insert($('d1'));
// Insert DOM element
$('d0').insert(document.getElementById('d2'));
</script>
You may find it useful to study how MyLibrary works, it has some very good practices and patterns.

Try this.
var getDOM= function(id) {
this.element= document.getElementById(id);
}
getDOM.prototype.insert= function(content) {
this.element.innerHTML= content;
}
var $= function(id) {
return new getDOM(id);
};
$('id').insert('Hello World!'); // can now insert 'Hello World!' into document.getElementById('id')

Can I name a JavaScript function and execute it immediately?

I have quite a few of these:
function addEventsAndStuff() {
// bla bla
}
addEventsAndStuff();
function sendStuffToServer() {
// send stuff
// get HTML in response
// replace DOM
// add events:
addEventsAndStuff();
}
Re-adding the events is necessary because the DOM has changed, so previously attached events are gone. Since they have to be attached initially as well (duh), they're in a nice function to be DRY.
There's nothing wrong with this set up (or is there?), but can I smooth it a little bit? I'd like to create the addEventsAndStuff() function and immediately call it, so it doesn't look so amateuristic.
Both following respond with a syntax error:
function addEventsAndStuff() {
alert('oele');
}();
(function addEventsAndStuff() {
alert('oele');
})();
Any takers?

There's nothing wrong with the example you posted in your question.. The other way of doing it may look odd, but:
var addEventsAndStuff;
(addEventsAndStuff = function(){
// add events, and ... stuff
})();
There are two ways to define a function in JavaScript. A function declaration:
function foo(){ ... }
and a function expression, which is any way of defining a function other than the above:
var foo = function(){};
(function(){})();
var foo = {bar : function(){}};
...etc
function expressions can be named, but their name is not propagated to the containing scope. Meaning this code is valid:
(function foo(){
foo(); // recursion for some reason
}());
but this isn't:
(function foo(){
...
}());
foo(); // foo does not exist
So in order to name your function and immediately call it, you need to define a local variable, assign your function to it as an expression, then call it.

There is a good shorthand to this (not needing to declare any variables bar the assignment of the function):
var func = (function f(a) { console.log(a); return f; })('Blammo')

There's nothing wrong with this set up (or is there?), but can I smooth it a little bit?
Look at using event delegation instead. That's where you actually watch for the event on a container that doesn't go away, and then use event.target (or event.srcElement on IE) to figure out where the event actually occurred and handle it correctly.
That way, you only attach the handler(s) once, and they just keep working even when you swap out content.
Here's an example of event delegation without using any helper libs:
(function() {
var handlers = {};
if (document.body.addEventListener) {
document.body.addEventListener('click', handleBodyClick, false);
}
else if (document.body.attachEvent) {
document.body.attachEvent('onclick', handleBodyClick);
}
else {
document.body.onclick = handleBodyClick;
}
handlers.button1 = function() {
display("Button One clicked");
return false;
};
handlers.button2 = function() {
display("Button Two clicked");
return false;
};
handlers.outerDiv = function() {
display("Outer div clicked");
return false;
};
handlers.innerDiv1 = function() {
display("Inner div 1 clicked, not cancelling event");
};
handlers.innerDiv2 = function() {
display("Inner div 2 clicked, cancelling event");
return false;
};
function handleBodyClick(event) {
var target, handler;
event = event || window.event;
target = event.target || event.srcElement;
while (target && target !== this) {
if (target.id) {
handler = handlers[target.id];
if (handler) {
if (handler.call(this, event) === false) {
if (event.preventDefault) {
event.preventDefault();
}
return false;
}
}
}
else if (target.tagName === "P") {
display("You clicked the message '" + target.innerHTML + "'");
}
target = target.parentNode;
}
}
function display(msg) {
var p = document.createElement('p');
p.innerHTML = msg;
document.body.appendChild(p);
}
})();
Live example
Note how if you click the messages that get dynamically added to the page, your click gets registered and handled even though there's no code to hook events on the new paragraphs being added. Also note how your handlers are just entries in a map, and you have one handler on the document.body that does all the dispatching. Now, you probably root this in something more targeted than document.body, but you get the idea. Also, in the above we're basically dispatching by id, but you can do matching as complex or simple as you like.
Modern JavaScript libraries like jQuery, Prototype, YUI, Closure, or any of several others should offer event delegation features to smooth over browser differences and handle edge cases cleanly. jQuery certainly does, with both its live and delegate functions, which allow you to specify handlers using a full range of CSS3 selectors (and then some).
For example, here's the equivalent code using jQuery (except I'm sure jQuery handles edge cases the off-the-cuff raw version above doesn't):
(function($) {
$("#button1").live('click', function() {
display("Button One clicked");
return false;
});
$("#button2").live('click', function() {
display("Button Two clicked");
return false;
});
$("#outerDiv").live('click', function() {
display("Outer div clicked");
return false;
});
$("#innerDiv1").live('click', function() {
display("Inner div 1 clicked, not cancelling event");
});
$("#innerDiv2").live('click', function() {
display("Inner div 2 clicked, cancelling event");
return false;
});
$("p").live('click', function() {
display("You clicked the message '" + this.innerHTML + "'");
});
function display(msg) {
$("<p>").html(msg).appendTo(document.body);
}
})(jQuery);
Live copy

Your code contains a typo:
(function addEventsAndStuff() {
alert('oele');
)/*typo here, should be }*/)();
so
(function addEventsAndStuff() {
alert('oele');
})();
works. Cheers!
[edit] based on comment: and this should run and return the function in one go:
var addEventsAndStuff = (
function(){
var addeventsandstuff = function(){
alert('oele');
};
addeventsandstuff();
return addeventsandstuff;
}()
);

You might want to create a helper function like this:
function defineAndRun(name, func) {
window[name] = func;
func();
}
defineAndRun('addEventsAndStuff', function() {
alert('oele');
});

Even simpler with ES6:
var result = ((a, b) => `${a} ${b}`)('Hello','World')
// result = "Hello World"
var result2 = (a => a*2)(5)
// result2 = 10
var result3 = (concat_two = (a, b) => `${a} ${b}`)('Hello','World')
// result3 = "Hello World"
concat_two("My name", "is Foo")
// "My name is Foo"

If you want to create a function and execute immediately -
// this will create as well as execute the function a()
(a=function a() {alert("test");})();
// this will execute the function a() i.e. alert("test")
a();

Try to do like that:
var addEventsAndStuff = (function(){
var func = function(){
alert('ole!');
};
func();
return func;
})();

For my application I went for the easiest way. I just need to fire a function immediately when the page load and use it again also in several other code sections.
function doMyFunctionNow(){
//for example change the color of a div
}
var flag = true;
if(flag){
doMyFunctionNow();
}