Helpers for beginners to JavaScript at AO.com

returns are useful!

// a function returning `something` in javascript is a useful tool

function foo() {
    return "foo";
}

// create a reference
var bar;
// if we assign `bar` to `foo`
bar = foo;
// bar now just points to the same function as foo
bar === foo;    // true
// we need to assign `bar` to the call of `foo`
bar = foo();
// `bar` is now assigned to the return value of `foo`
bar;    // "foo"


// functions can return objects
function foo() {
    return {
        bar : function() {
            return "foo";
        }
    }
}

var bar = foo();
// `bar` is now the object returned from `foo`
bar.bar();  // "foo"

// functions can return functions
function foo() {
    return function() {
        return "bar";
    }
};

var bar = foo();
bar();  // "bar"

// when a function returns, its return value can immediately be operated on
// from all the above examples

function foo() {
    return "foo";
}

// operate immediately on the returned string
var bar = foo().length; // 3

function foo() {
    return {
        bar : function() {
            return "bar";
        }
    }
}

// operate immediately on the returned object
var bar = foo().bar();  // "bar"

function foo() {
    return function() {
        return "bar";
    }
};

// operate immediately on the returned function
var bar = foo()()   // "bar";

// how about an object that has a method that returns the object?
var on = {
    andOn : function() {
        return on;  // return the parent object
    }
};

// call `andOn` to get back an object with an `andOn` method
var bar = on.andOn(); // { andOn : function() { return on; }}

// so chaining indefinitely is possible!
on.andOn().andOn().andOn().andOn().andOn().andOn().andOn().andOn().andOn().andOn().andOn().andOn();

// nice!
// so remember, returns are powerful things to have in your toolbelt!
// have fun with them