use function return as JavaScript variable

Question

I got this js line:

var functest = function(){
    if (this.href === "undefined") { 
        return window.location 
    } else { 
        return this.href 
    }
};

Basically I want this if function to return the variable necesarry and assign it to functest.

This obviously is not working and returns the function as a string somehow. How should I do this?

You are making functest the function. To prove this write the following code functest(); this will call the above function and return either the href or the window.location — abc123
– abc123, Commented Feb 2, 2014 at 23:31
You should use window.location.href, not just window.location — Skwal
– Skwal, Commented Feb 2, 2014 at 23:36
This is incorrect. this.href === "undefined" Drop the quotes this.href === undefined — cookie monster
– cookie monster, Commented Feb 2, 2014 at 23:37
@zzzzBov: Yep, I agree. An IIFE with a local undefined is a good solution. — cookie monster
– cookie monster, Commented Feb 3, 2014 at 16:03

acarlon · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-02 23:33:09Z

3

If you want the function to be assigned to a variable that you can call when needed and then you want to assign the return value to a variable:

var functest = function(){if (this.href === "undefined") { return window.location } else { return this.href } };
var funcVal = functest();

answered Feb 2, 2014 at 23:33

acarlon

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Comments

zzzzBov · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-02 23:47:46Z

2

You need to execute the function to assign its return value:

var functest = (function () {
    if (this.href === 'undefined') {
        return window.location;
    } else {
        return this.href;
    }
}());//note the extra parenthesis to call the function

This particular function is probably better written as a single-line ternary assignment:

var functest = this.href === 'undefined' ? window.location : this.href;

Also, you probably wanted to check that this.href === undefined or typeof this.href === 'undefined':

var functest = typeof this.href === 'undefined' ? window.location : this.href;

edited Feb 2, 2014 at 23:47

answered Feb 2, 2014 at 23:33

zzzzBov

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Comments

Goran.it · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-02 23:36:20Z

1

You can do that with self-executing function like this :

var functest = (function () {
    if (this.href === "undefined") { return window.location } else { return this.href }
})();

answered Feb 2, 2014 at 23:36

Goran.it

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