How To Use Javascript Arrow Functions & This Keyword

ES6 introduced a new way of writing JavaScript functions called arrow function that uses a fat arrow ( => ). <!--more--> This guide will discuss how to use the arrow function to write your JavaScript functions. Focusing on converting regular functions to arrow functions as we consider when not to use arrow functions. To understand the arrow functions, it is essential to have prior knowledge of JavaScript functions.

What are the arrow functions #

It is a sort of an abbreviated way to write compact functions.

The following are a few facts about arrow functions:

• Using the arrow function, curly braces, parenthesis, function, and return keywords become optional.
• The arrow function has a lexical scoping to this context.

One of the main differences between arrow functions and regular functions is that arrow functions can only be anonymous. They are not bound to any identifier.

Thus they created dynamically. We cannot name an arrow function as we do for the regular functions. However, if you'd like to call or reuse an arrow function, you will need to assign it to a variable.

For example:

// a named regular function
function myFunc(params) {
  // function body
}

Arrow functions are always anonymous.

// anonymous arrow function
(params) => {
  // function body
};

To call an arrow function and reuse it, you need to store it in a variable, for example:

const myFunc = (params) => {
  // function body
}

How to use arrow functions #

One aspect you will recognize frequently is the range of syntaxes usable in the arrow functions. Arrow function have a lot of variations and different syntax depending on your block of code.

Let’s discuss some of the common ones.

Here is a standard arrow function syntax.

Arrow functions are denoted with the following syntax:

(paraml, param2, paramN) => {
  statement(s);
};

• Param - function arguments/parameters.
• Statement - the body of the function.

When writing an arrow function:

• The keyword function is eliminated.
• The arrow is positioned in between the arguments of the function and the function body.

More dynamic arrow functions syntax #

Let's try to derive more arrow function syntaxes by converting some regular functions to arrow functions.

Example one: A function with one argument.

function square(a) {
    return a * a;
}

Here we have a named function square() with a single parameter a. As we said, the arrow function takes different syntax variations. This is how we can replicate it using an arrow function.

• No function keyword anymore.

const square = (a) => {
    return a * a;
}

• When a function has one parameter, the parentheses are optional.

const square = a => {
    return a * a;
}

• An arrow function makes an implicit return; in this case, the return keyword will be optional.

const square = a => {
     a * a;
}

• Meaning we can do away with the curly braces.

const square = a => 
     a * a;

• Finally, move everything to one line.

const square = a => a * a;

Wow, note the difference. The results will be the same, the code gets smaller and more compact, with an arrow function, we arrive at one line of code, and the code's logic remains the same.

From the above examples, passing one parameter can derive a summary of the following syntax.

(singleParam) => { statement }
singleParam => statement

If the function body has more than one statement, you need to wrap the function body with the curly brackets and use the return keyword to return the results.

const square = a => {
  const total = a + b;
  return total;
}

Example two: A function with multiple parameters.

function sum(x, y) {
  return x + y;
}

Curly brackets are optional, and since we have one statement, we can do away with the return keyword.

const sum = (x, y) => x + y;

In this case, the function accepts two parameters, a and b, and returns the expression a+b.

Because we have more than one parameter, you need to wrap the parameters with parentheses ((x,y)). Otherwise, that will be a syntax error.

We can derive the following syntax.

(paraml, param2) => { statements }
(paraml, param2) => expression
(paraml, param2) => {return expression; }

Because more than one parameter requires parentheses, rest and destructing parameters can be implemented using an arrow function.

They both need parentheses.

Example three: A function with an anonymous function.

It is a function with no name.

Here is an example.

const anonyFunc = function () {
    // function body
};

Example four: Anonymous Function with Parameters.

const add = function (a, b) {
    return a + b;
};

This is how we can replicate the example above using the arrow function.

const anonyFunc = () => {};

With parameters,

const add = (a, b) =>  a + b
};

A clear note here is that the anonymous function always uses the parentheses.

Syntax summary.

() => { statements }
() => expression

//implicit return
() => { return expression; }

Anonymous functions are mostly applied as an argument to another function. Such as a callback.

For example:

setTimeout(function () {
  console.log("Executed after 3 second");
}, 3000);

In this case, the anonymous function is passed as an argument to the setTimeout() function. After 3 seconds, the anonymous function will be executed.

This is how we can write the above anonymous function using the arrow function.

setTimeout(() => console.log("Executed after 3 second"), 3000);

Some common applications of arrow functions #

Arrow functions and callbacks #

The arrow function syntax is heavily seen when using callback functions.

For example, let's use some of the built-in JavaScript callback functions, such as filter and map, and see what we can achieve with arrow functions.

Assume you have an array of donors:

const donated = [{name: "Xavier", age: 19, city:"LA", donation: 20},
{name: "David", age: 16, city:"georgia", donation: 20},
{name: "Amanda", age: 18, city:"wahingon DC", donation: 20},
{name: "Amy", age: 20, city:"chicago", donation: 20},
{name: "Jesicca", age: 28 , city:"LA", donation: 20},
{name: "Alex", age: 15, city:"LA", donation: 20}]

This is how we can apply filter and map using the regular function syntax:

const donate = donated.filter(function (donated) {
  if (donated.age >= 18) {
    return true;
  }
});
console.log(" Donors above 18", donate);

const sum = donated.reduce(function (total, amount) {
  return total + amount.donation;
}, 0);
console.log("Total donations", sum);

Replicate the logic above using an arrow function.

const donate = donated.filter((donated) => donated.age >= 18);
console.log(" Donors above 18", donate);

const sum = donated.reduce((total, amount) => total + amount.donation, 0);
console.log("Total donations", sum);

The arrow function makes the callback function compact and less verbose. This doesn't affect the readable code.

Arrow function and this context #

this represents an object that executes the current function. In short, this is defined by the function execution context. Such as how a function is called, it refers to a global object window. For example, when a function is being executed from a global object.

You might have used this keyword in a real-life situation without realizing it. Suppose you are walking along with your mother and meet a friend along the way. This is how you would introduce your mom to your friend. This is my mother.

Take a close look at this is that sentence. this shows a reference to your mother. this represents the mother in the current sentence. It is the same way JavaScript uses this keyword.

Let see how JavaScript will refer to a mother using this.

// an object parent with the property mom_name
const parent = {
  // add property
  mom_name: "Samantha Quinn",

  // create a method to return parent
  mother: function () {
    return "This is my mother.";
  },
};
console.log(parent.mother());

Log This is my mother to the console. But what if we replace "this" in the sentence with JavaScript this keyword.

// an object parent with the property mom_name
const parent = {
  mom_name: "Samantha Quinn",
  mother: function () {
    return `${this} is my mother.`;
  },
};
console.log(parent.mother());

This will print an object because we didn't reveal the mother's name. We didn't refer to the mother. It executes the object parent, but we didn't refer this to the property of parent.

If we specify the mother's name.

const parent = {
    mom_name: "Samantha Quinn",
    mother: function () {
        return `${this.mom_name} is my mother`;
    },
};
console.log(parent.mother());

Samantha Quinn is my mother, will be printed in the console.

In this example, we used the this keyword to refer to the parent. Meaning this refers to its parent object. It refers to the context where the anonymous function is called. And this will bind to the parent object to return the name of the mother.

What if we use this globally. Let's see that with examples.

function test() {
  console.log(this);
}
test();

Run the above call in a browse console. You will get something like:

Window {window: Window, . . . .}

This is because the test() is called from a global context, and this will refer to a global object. In this case, a global object window is called from the browser. this is not defined by the caller.

Thus, it will turn to the default window object. The Javascript engine will check if test() is available in the window object. If not, the engine will add it to the many available Javascript window object methods.

Let's get a little complex. What if we use the arrow function.

const parent = {
  mom_name: "Samantha Quinn",
  mother: () => {
    return `${this.mom_name} is my mother.`;
  },
};
console.log(parent.mother());

We get undefined......

It actually makes sense. In the regular function, a function always defines its this value. Arrow functions treat this keyword differently. They don't define their own context since it doesn't have its own this context. They inherit that from the parent scope whenever you call this.

this in regular function always refers to the context of the function being called. However, in the arrow function, this has nothing to do with the caller of the function. It refers to the scope where the function (the enclosing context) is present. That's why we get undefined.

To understand this, let's go through another example.

function User() {
  (this.name = "John Doe"),
    (this.score = 20),
    (this.sayUser = function () {
      // when `this` is accessible
      console.log(this.name);

      function innerFunction() {
        // when `this` refers to the global scope/object
        console.log(this.name);
      }

      innerFunction();
    });
}
let name = new User();
name.sayUser();

Output:

John Doe

undefined

In the first case, we get the user name because this.name is inside this.sayUser, which is accessible. The reason is because this.sayUser is a method of the object User.

On the other hand, the this.name inside innerFunction function is not accessible. It refers to the global object window where sayUser is not defined—thus returning undefined.

To solve that, you would typically assign this to a variable that doesn't shadow innerFunction.

For example:

function User() {
  (this.name = "John Doe"),
    (this.score = 20),
    (this.sayUserName = function () {
      // when `this` is accessible
      console.log(this.name);

      // when `this` refers to the global scope/object
      // a variable that doesn't shadow `innerFunction`
      let self = this;
      function innerFunction() {
        console.log(self.name);
      }

      innerFunction();
    });
}
let name = new User();
name.sayUserName();

However, when the innerFunction is inside an arrow function, this will refer to the parent scope by creating this of its own context.

For example:

function User() {
  (this.name = "John Doe"),
    (this.score = 20),
    (this.sayUser = function () {
      // when `this` is accessible
      console.log(this.name);

      let innerFunction = () => {
        // when `this` refers to the global scope/object
        console.log(this.name);
      };

      innerFunction();
    });
}
let name = new User();
name.sayUser();

Let's look at the broader scope of how the arrow function binds to this keyword.

Here is an example that uses the regular function.

Execute the examples below with the console. You can use the Google chrome console.

let animals = {
  // add property
  domesticAnimals: ["cat", "dog", "cow", "goat", "sheep", "donkey", "pig", "horse"],
  // add method
  printdomesticAnimals: function () {

    // print after 3 seconds
    setTimeout(function () {
      console.log(this.domesticAnimals.join(" - "));
    }, 3000);
  },
};
animals.printdomesticAnimals();

The above example accesses the object's property domesticAnimals and prints the domestic animals in 3 seconds. Unfortunately, we ran into an error.

setTimeout() can't find the domesticAnimals, which means the JavaScript engine interprets domesticAnimals as undefined. Meaning this doesn't point to the property domesticAnimals. this seems to be pointing to somewhere else.

Does it refer to the:

• inner function context
• the outer (enclosing) function context
• the object context or
• the window context?

The example below will help us to understand where this keyword points. We will log this inside the context of outer (printdomesticAnimals()) and inner (setTimeout()) function.

let animals = {
  // add property
  domesticAnimals: ["cat", "dog", "cow", "goat", "sheep", "donkey", "pig", "horse"],
  // add method
  printdomesticAnimals: function () {
         console.log("inside printdomesticAnimals", this);
    // print after 3 seconds
    setTimeout(function () {
      console.log("inside setTimeout", this);
    }, 3000);
  },
};
animals.printdomesticAnimals();

this inside printdomesticAnimals() points to the object animals with the domesticAnimals property. this inside setTimeout() points to the window object where property domesticAnimals is undefined.

This is where the arrow function comes into play. They don't have their own this context. When used inside the outer (enclosing) function, this keyword will point to where the function is present.

In this case, this will be attached to the outer context printdomesticAnimals() where setTimeout() is called. printdomesticAnimals() will be the enclosing context where this will be attached.

let animals = {
  // add property
  domesticAnimals: ["cat", "dog", "cow", "goat", "sheep", "donkey", "pig", "horse"],
  // add method
  printdomesticAnimals: function () {

    // print after 3 seconds
    setTimeout(() => console.log(this.domesticAnimals.join(" - ")), 3000)
  },
};
animals.printdomesticAnimals();

When we use the arrow function, we get the results as we expected.

Arrow functions with object literal #

Let's have an example that represents a JavaScript object.

const sayName = function(){
  return {
    name: "Jonh Doe",
    age: 26,
  };
}
console.log(sayName().name);

sayName() is a function expression that returns an object that has properties name and age set to "John Doe" and "26", respectively.

Convert to an arrow function.

const sayName = () => {
  name: "Jonh Doe",
  age: 26,
};

console.log(sayName().name);

You should note that when we return the literal object using the arrow function it causes an error. This is because JavaScript can't distinguish if the curly braces represent a block of code or an object.

To solve this, wrap the literal object with parenthesis.

For example:

const sayName = () => ({
  name: "Jonh Doe",
  age: 26,
});
console.log(sayName().name);

When not to use arrow functions #

The arrow functions concept is great, however, they are not ideal across all functional instances. You should be keen on where to apply the arrow function.

For example, there are some instances that you should avoid using.

They include:

Arrow function can never be a method #

For example, this applies to the mom example we explained earlier

For example:

// an object parent with the property mom_name
const parent = {
     // add property
  mom_name: "Samantha Quinn",
     // create a method to return parent
  mother: () => {
    return `${this.mom_name} is my mother.`;
  },
};
console.log(parent.mother());

Object parent has one property, mom_name, and one method, mother.

In this case, this.mom_name return undefined because this value is equal to the method upon where we call the object property.

As we said earlier, this inside an arrow function is equivalent to the global object.

Whenever an arrow function is inside an object, it will derive this value from the enclosing lexical scope. Lexical scope, in this case, is the global scope.

this.mom_name in the mother method is equal to the window.mom_name in the web browser. The window.mom_name is undefined by default.

Window object doesn’t have the property mom_name. Thus console.log(mom. mother()) will return undefined as this inherits its eclosing context mother where mom_name is undefined.

To prevent the this value from binding to the global scope, use the regular function inside the object method as follows:

// an object mom with the property mom_name
const parent = {
  // add property
  mom_name: "Samantha Quinn",
  // create a method to return parent
  mother: function () {
    return `${this.mom_name} is my mother.`;
  },
};
console.log(parent.mother());

Avoid arrow functions when using a code block with methods. They can be confusing at times due to their lexical scoping. This occurs mostly on object methods, prototype methods, and class methods. this is scoped to the parent (window) context.

An arrow function can never be a constructor #

The value this points to its parent does not have a constructor.

const User = () => {
  (this.name = "John Doe"), (this.age = 20);
};
const user = new User();
console.log(user);

When you execute, this will throw an error Uncaught TypeError: User is not a constructor because arrow functions are not constructable.

However, a regular function can be constructors,

For example:

function User() {
  (this.name = "John Doe"), (this.age = 20);
}
const user = new User();
console.log(user);

Using the new keyword to create an object in an arrow function will output an error.

Click handlers #

Suppose I have a button CLICK ME.

Here is the code to implement a click me button.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <style>
    button {
      font-size: 100px;
    }
    .on {
      background: #ffc600;
    }
  </style>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Document</title>
</head>
<body>
  <button id="clicky">CLICK ME</button>
  <script>
// Call the following arrow function when the button is clicked.
    const button = document.querySelector('#clicky'); button.addEventListener('click', () => { this.classList.toggle('on'); });
  </script>
  </button>
</body>
</html>

When you click the button, you get an error. But why? This means that this in the click event handle is undefined. And will always return undefined.

Remember what we said about the arrow functions using this?. this, inside the arrow function, implies that the function does not have a this value of its own.

They don't define their own context since it doesn't have its own this context. They inherit that from the parent scope whenever you call this. The parent scope is the window scope. Thus this in the above example will reference the window object.

this is not attached to the element we refer to. The window object doesn't have .classList.toggle property. Thus Javascript engine will add the .classList.toggle to the window object and set it to undefined. To fix these issues, you would use the regular function where this is bound to the element that triggers the click event.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <style>
    button {
      font-size: 100px;
    }
    .on {
      background: #ffc600;
    }
  </style>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Document</title>
</head>
<body>
  <button id="clicky">CLICK ME</button>
  <script>
    const button = document.querySelector('#clicky'); button.addEventListener('click', function() { this.classList.toggle('on'); });
  </script>
  </button>
</body>
</html>

Debugging may not be easy #

Arrow functions cannot be named. They are anonymous. Anonymous functions are labeled as anonymous during a debugging session.

This doesn't give you any idea what the code block is running. When you run into issues, it may be harder to debug the root cause. When the functions have names, it's simpler to trace back to the problem. With anonymous functions, it adds a level of complexity to debugging.

Readability takes a hit #

Although arrow functions help with writing short and concise code, it is not necessarily readable. Most programmers are used to the traditional way of writing functions, and arrow functions change this completely. This makes code harder to read and might take a while for someone newer to grasp the code.

Therefore in such circumstances, developers may choose to use regular functions rather than arrow functions. The primary objective when you compose a function is to create the purest function practicable. Meaning that the function would still return its same value. If you're using regular functions or arrow functions, it doesn't matter. It should be about writing readable and cleaner code always.

Final Notes #

Arrow functions save you some keystrokes when working with the functions. They are especially useful for inline functions, as they pass along the outer this context.

With an arrow function:

• No more function keywords are need, and parenthesis are optional as well as curly braces.
• Arrow functions make code shorter, more concise, and less verbose.
• The keyword return would indeed be optional. The Arrow function has an implicit return. Thus no curly braces. If you are using the curly braces, you have to use the return statement.
• Arrow functions are not attached to an identifier (the function name). To call or reuse them, your need to assign them to a variable.
• They are frequently used in callback chaining, promise chaining, array methods, and situations where anonymous (the function has no name) functions would be useful.
• They handle this operator a lot more clearly. The Arrow functions shine most whenever you need this to be attached to the context and not its own function.

As a beginner, arrow functions seem unfamiliar and hard to read. They take time to understand. As you learn about them, they become convenient and straightforward to implement in your functions.

I hope this guide gives you an overview of applying the fat arrow within your functional code blocks.

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Peer Review Contributions by: Adrian Murage