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Object Methods

Q: What does 'this' refer to inside an object method?

Answer: In an object method, 'this' refers to the object that 'owns' or is calling the method..

Q: What happens if you use an arrow function as an object method?

Answer: Arrow functions do not have their own 'this'. If used as a method, 'this' will refer to the surrounding lexical scope (usually the global window object), which is often not what you want for a method..

Q: Is a method different from a regular function?

Answer: Technically, a method is just a function that is stored as a property of an object. The main practical difference is its access to the 'this' context of that object..

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JavaScript Object Methods

Object methods are actions that can be performed on objects. A JavaScript method is a property containing a function definition.

1. The `this` Keyword in Methods

In an object method, this refers to the object. In the example below, this refers to the person object:

const person = {
  firstName: "John",
  lastName: "Doe",
  id: 5566,
  fullName: function() {
    return this.firstName + " " + this.lastName;
  }
};

When you call person.fullName(), this is bound to the person instance.

2. Accessing Object Methods

You access an object method with the following syntax:

name = person.fullName();

[!WARNING] If you access the method without parentheses, it will return the function definition instead of the result.

name = person.fullName; // returns function() { return this.firstName ... }

3. Adding a Method to an Object

Adding a new method to an object is easy:

person.name = function() {
  return this.firstName + " " + this.lastName;
};

4. ES6 Shorthand for Methods

Since 2015, you can use a shorter syntax for method definitions in object literals:

const person = {
  firstName: "John",
  fullName() {
    return this.firstName;
  }
};

Object Methods

Expert Answer & Key Takeaways

JavaScript Object Methods

1. The `this` Keyword in Methods

2. Accessing Object Methods

3. Adding a Method to an Object

4. ES6 Shorthand for Methods

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Object Methods

Expert Answer & Key Takeaways

JavaScript Object Methods

1. The this Keyword in Methods

2. Accessing Object Methods

3. Adding a Method to an Object

4. ES6 Shorthand for Methods

Top Interview Questions

?Interview Question

?Interview Question

?Interview Question

Course4All Engineering Team

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1. The `this` Keyword in Methods