How to call a function when a function execution is completed? - Javascript - javascript

I am working with a user control that has set of javascript functions that are called when an action is performed. This user control is used in a lot of places in the application.
When one of the inbuilt JS function completes execution, I need to fire a custom JS function on my page.
Is there a way for me to attach a function to be fired when another function completes execution? I don't want to update the inbuilt JS function to call this page JS function.
Hope this makes sense.

There are a couple design patterns you could use for this depending upon the specific code (which you have not shared) and what you can and cannot change:
Option 1: Add a callback to some existing code:
function mainFunction(callbackWhenDone) {
// do other stuff here
callbackWhenDone();
}
So, you can call this with:
mainFunction(myFunction);
Option 2: Wrap previous function:
obj.oldMethod = obj.mainFunction;
obj.mainFunction = function() {
this.oldMethod.apply(this, arguments);
// call your stuff here after executing the old method
myFunction();
}
So, now anytime someone does:
obj.mainFunction();
it will call the original method and then call your function.

You're basically trying to do callbacks. Since you're not mentioning what functions you're talking about (as in code), the best thing to do would be basically to wrap the function, -quick and dirty- and make it work with callbacks.
That way you can pass it a Lambda (Anonymous Function) and execute anything you want when it's done.
Updated to demonstrate how to add Callbacks:
function my_function($a, $callback) {
alert($a);
$callback();
}
my_function('argument', function() {
alert('Completed');
});

The ugliest and best solution is to monkey-patch the built-in function. Assume the built-in function is called "thirdParty":
// first, store a ref to the original
var copyOfThirdParty = thirdParty;
// then, redefine it
var thirdParty = function() {
// call the original first (passing any necessary args on through)
copyOfThirdParty.apply(this, arguments);
// then do whatever you want when it's done;
// custom code goes here
customFunction();
};
We've essentially created a modified version of the built-in function without ever touching the original version.

Since Javascript is highly dynamic you can modify the original function without modifying its source code:
function connect_after(before, after){
return function(){
before.apply(this, arguments);
after();
};
}
var original_function = function(){ console.log(1); }
original_function = connect_after(original_function, function(){ console.log(2); })

Related

How can you pass anonymous functions as parameters to existing functions to use later in javascript?

I am trying to create a basic javascript framework that you can pass different things into, including functions for it to execute later. Right now, I'm in a more simple testing phase, but I can't quite get the function calling to work. A piece of my code is here:
[My JS Fiddle][1]http://jsfiddle.net/mp243wm6/
My code has an object that holds different data, and I want to call the method later, but with data that is available at the time of creation. Here is a code snippet of the function that uses the function that is passed to the object:
clickMe : function() {
this.obj.click(function() {
this.func();
});
}
Any suggestions or things I should read are welcome.
The problem is that there're two different contexts:
clickMe : function() {
// here is one
this.obj.click(function() {
// here is another
this.func();
});
}
You can simple pass the function as parameter, like the following:
clickMe : function() {
this.obj.click($.proxy(this.func, this));
}
http://jsfiddle.net/mp243wm6/2/
The problem:
Considering your code in the JSFiddle, you have:
onClick : function() {
this.obj.click(function() {
this.func();
});
},
As noted, you have different contexts going on here.
Consider the snippet this.obj.click(function() { this.func(); }). The first this here is a reference to the framework.events object. The second this here is a reference to whatever will be this when this function get called. In the case of your JSFiddle, when this.func gets called, this is actually the DOM object that represents the <div id="test">TEST</div> node. Since it doesn't have a func function, calling func() on it causes:
Uncaught TypeError: undefined is not a function
You have to understand the following: you have to pass the correct this in which you want the function func to be called.
The solution:
A couple of ways to make it work as you would like:
1. with bind
this.obj.click(this.func.bind(this));
This way, you are telling: "call my this.func function, but make sure that it will be called using the this that I am passing as a parameter". Vanilla JS, no $.proxy stuff.
JSFiddle
2. with a copy of the reference to the actual function
onClick : function() {
var theFunctionReference = this.func;
this.obj.click(function() {
theFunctionReference();
});
},
This way, you will not rely on the value of this outside of the context of the framework.events object.
JSFiddle
The issue is that this is not bound to the correct object. I would suggest you look into Function.bind() because that creates a function with this pointing to the right thing.

call vs passing object in javascript

ive been using call a bit recently in some tutorials I've been following but am more used to passing the object. I was wondering is it best to use call. What's the most efficient way?
var editor = function(someParam){
//do something with this
}
var testFunction function(someParam){
editor.call(this, someParam);
}
or
var editor = function(obj, someParam){
var self = obj;
}
var testFunction function(someParam){
editor(this, someParam);
}
I would stick with passing the object to the function as long as you can structure the function that way.
I see call more like a utility if the function cannot be changed anymore and you really have to inject a different this context.
Also, consider using the prototype approach if your function is bound very close to some object that you want to call the function on.
Also, call will be less performant than passing the object to the function, as the injection of a different this has some overhead.
In some cases call is very useful, for example when adding event handler:
window.addEventListener('load', function(){
var cb = document.getElementById('myCheckBox');
cb.addEventListener('change', onchange);
onchange.call(cb); // sets `cb` as `this` in `onchange` function
});
function onchange(){
// I'm using 'this' for current element
if(this.checked)
alert('checked');
}
In this case onchange will be called on window load and every time checkbox checked state changes

Function listener in JavaScript and/or jQuery

Wondering if there is an elegant way to listen for a function in JavaScript and/or jQuery.
Rather than listening for a $('#mything').click(function(){ //blah }) I'd like to listen for when a specific function is fired off. I don't want to edit the function as it's within a library that I don't want to hack directly.
I did find this: http://plugins.jquery.com/project/jqConnect which connects functions.
But wondering about a better technique.
The only way to do this is to override the function (ie, hack the library):
(function() {
var oldVersion = someLibrary.someFunction;
someLibrary.someFunction = function() {
// do some stuff
var result = oldVersion.apply(this, arguments);
// do some more stuff
return result;
};
})();
Edit: To run your code after the library function has run, just call the library function first, storing the result in a variable. Then, run your code, and finally return the previously stored result. I've updated my example above to accomodate running code either before or after the library function.

How to redefine JS function keeping previous in chain

This is common task coming from object oriented programming, I would like to change behavior of JavaScript program by overriding existing function with possible calling it as well. I remember Windows introduced that as writing hooks and chaining them. So what I want, I have a web page which calls some onload hook which finally calls function initFields. I want to redefine this function however keep previous implementation. If I simply define my JS function as
function initFields() {
// do some stuff ...
// I do not know how to call super.initFields() here
}
I read something like you can write
initFields.prototype = function() {
// do some stuff ...
// but still have no idea how to call the original one
};
Can somebody help?
One option is
var initFieldsInitial = initFields;
function initFields() {
// your stuff
initFieldsInitial.apply(this, arguments);
}
You could try the wrap() function from the underscore.js library.
http://documentcloud.github.com/underscore/#wrap
var initFields = function() {
// do something
console.log('initFields');
}
initFields = _.wrap(initFields, function(initial) {
// do some stuff
console.log('wrapper');
initial();
});
$(document).ready(function() {
initFields();
});

Call function with "this"

I have an onclick handler for an <a> element (actually, it's a jQuery-created handler, but that's not important). It looks like this:
function handleOnClick() {
if(confirm("Are you sure?")) {
return handleOnClickConfirmed();
}
return false;
}
From this function, the this object is accessable as the <a> element clicked. However, handleOnClickConfirmed's this is a Window element! I want handleOnClickConfirmed to have the same this as handleOnClick does. How would I do this?
(I know I can pass this as an argument to handleOnClickConfirmed, but some of my code already uses handleOnClickConfirmed and I don't want to have to rewrite those calls. Besides, I think using this looks cleaner.)
The following ought to do it:
function handleOnClick() {
if( confirm( "Sure?" ) ) {
return handleOnClickConfirmed.call( this );
}
return false;
}
The call() function attached to Function objects is designed to allow this; calling a function with a desired context. It's an extremely useful trick when setting up event handlers that call back into functions within other objects.
Rob's answer is the best answer for your problem, but I wanted to address something that you wrote in your original question:
I know I can pass this as an argument to handleOnClickConfirmed, but some of my code already uses handleOnClickConfirmed and I don't want to have to rewrite those calls.
JavaScript parameters are always optional, as far as the interpreter is concerned. For example if you have the function:
function MyFunction(paramA, paraB) {
// do nothing
}
All of these calls will execute without error:
MyFunction(1,2);
MyFunction(1);
MyFunction();
So you could modify handleOnClickConfirmed to accept what would essentially be an optional parameter. Like so:
function handleOnClickConfirmed(context) {
context = context || this;
// use context instead of 'this' through the rest of your code
}
Again, in this particular case, the call function is the best solution. But the technique I outlined above is a good one to have in your toolbox.

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