JavaScript Function Call
Method Reuse
With the call() method, you can write a method that can be used on different objects.
All Functions are Methods
In JavaScript all functions are object methods.
If a function is not a method of a JavaScript object, it is a function of the global object (see previous chapter).
The example below creates an object with 3 properties, firstName, lastName, fullName.
Example
const myObject = {
firstName:"John",
lastName: "Doe",
fullName: function () {
return this.firstName + " " + this.lastName;
}
}
// This will return "John Doe":
myObject.fullName();
Try it Yourself »
The this Keyword
In a function definition, this refers to the "owner" of the function.
In the example above, this is the person object that "owns" the fullName function.
In other words, this.firstName means the firstName property of this object.
Read more about the this keyword at JS this Keyword.
The JavaScript call() Method
The call() method is a predefined JavaScript method.
It can be used to invoke (call) a method with an owner object as an argument (parameter).
With call(), an object can use a method belonging to another object.
This example calls the fullName method of person, using it on person1:
Example
const person = {
fullName: function() {
return this.firstName + " " + this.lastName;
}
}
const person1 = {
firstName:"John",
lastName: "Doe"
}
const person2 = {
firstName:"Mary",
lastName: "Doe"
}
// This will return "John Doe":
person.fullName.call(person1);
Try it Yourself »
This example calls the fullName method of person, using it on person2:
Example
const person = {
fullName: function() {
return this.firstName + " " + this.lastName;
}
}
const person1 = {
firstName:"John",
lastName: "Doe"
}
const person2 = {
firstName:"Mary",
lastName: "Doe"
}
// This will return "Mary Doe"
person.fullName.call(person2);
Try it Yourself »
The call() Method with Arguments
The call() method can accept arguments:
Example
const person = {
fullName: function(city, country) {
return this.firstName + " " + this.lastName + "," + city + "," + country;
}
}
const person1 = {
firstName:"John",
lastName: "Doe"
}
person.fullName.call(person1, "Oslo", "Norway");
Try it Yourself »
