Question

If functions have the scope, they should be executed within that scope, but here I think it’s different See the code:

function foo() {
    var privateVal = "Private Val";
    this.publicVal = "Public Val";

    var privateAlert = function (str) {
        alert(str + this.publicVal);
        alert(str + privateVal);
    }

    this.Run = function () //see here
    {
        privateAlert("Private Call: ");

        this.publicAlert = privateAlert;
        this.publicAlert("Public Call: ");

        privateAlert = this.publicAlert;
        privateAlert("Private Call: ");
        this.publicAlert("Public Call: ");
    }
}

var bar = new foo();
bar.Run();

When the new object is created, Run() becomes the public method of an object or the method tht only belongs to the var bar. That method shouldn’t be able to execute the privateAlert() function from within it; since function has the scope, it can only get executed from within the function it has been declared but this function have lost the scope where it was created and it is still getting executed . Clarify this please?

Answer 1

The simple explanation:

1. Any variable declared inside a function is not accessible outside that function.
2. Inner functions have access to variables declared on their outer scopes (see closures).

So, you can call privateAlert from Run because both have been defined inside of foo.

One more thing: Run is not a private method of bar, it’s a public method.