Question

var tools = {};

tools.triangle = function() {
    var originX = 0;
    var originY = 0;
}

 

var tools = {};

tools.triangle = function() {
    this.originX = 0;
    this.originY = 0;
}

Are there any differences between these two code blocks? Sorry if this has been asked before.

Answer 1

var creates a local variable within tools.triangle. The variables originX and originY cannot be interacted with outside of tools.triangle. this is a pointer to the current object you are dealing with. The second example can be used to give properties to an object by doing new tools.triangle();. If you do not use new and just use tools.triangle();, this will point the global object which is the window object. You can change the object to which this points by using the function methods call(); and apply(); like this:

var myObj = {};

tools.triangle.call( myObj );

// "this" in tools.triangle now points to myObj
// myObj now has the properties originX and originY

It is important to know that this can reference any object, as well as be undefined or null in ES5 strict mode.

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