CallBack Functions

What are callback functions in js and when do we use it ? Can anyone explain in brief with an example.

36 Replies

when u pass one function as an argument to another function thats basically what i callback function is

function sayHello() {
  console.log("hello there!");
}

function iCallFunctions(callbackFunction) {
  callBackFunction();
}

iCallFunctions(sayHello);

function sayHello() {
  console.log("hello there!");
}

function iCallFunctions(callbackFunction) {
  callBackFunction();
}

iCallFunctions(sayHello);

here we are passing the sayHello function as an argument to the iCallFunctions() and that function calls the sayHello function

ἔρως•2mo ago

a callback function is almost self explanatory: its a function that will be called back later, at possibly some point

glutonium•2mo ago

another example is

function sayHello() {
  console.log("hello there!");
}

document.addEventListener("click", sayHello);

function sayHello() {
  console.log("hello there!");
}

document.addEventListener("click", sayHello);

here we will call the function sayHello evertime user clicks

ἔρως•2mo ago

remember that callback functions can be executed 0 or more times and it may run after a millisecond or after an hour: nobody knows

Vandana•2mo ago

any usecase/

glutonium•2mo ago

i just.... showed u .

Jochem•2mo ago

the array functions use callbacks extensively too 99/100 you'll use callbacks rather than write functions that use them though but they're very common in JavaScript's built-in functions, especially for any asynchronous action. map and the other array functions, .then, addEventListener...

Vandana•2mo ago

yea got it. but what are the advantages by doing so.

document.addEventListener("click", function sayHello() {
  console.log("hello there!");
});

document.addEventListener("click", function sayHello() {
  console.log("hello there!");
});

glutonium•2mo ago

when u directly define a callback function u dont need to give it a name

document.addEventListener("click", function() {
  console.log("hello there!");
});

document.addEventListener("click", function() {
  console.log("hello there!");
});

this is called an anonymous function u give name to a function so u can later refer to that function by that name when writing a callback function directly inside another function, u dont need to give it a name cause there's really no need of it. cause u can only refer to that function using that name only within the function itself. so unless u wanna createa recursive function u dont need to give it a name so for example

document.addEventListener("click", function sayHello() {
  console.log("hello there!");
  sayHello();
});

document.addEventListener("click", function sayHello() {
  console.log("hello there!");
  sayHello();
});

it will create an infinity loop, a recursion the first time u click but this is something u wouldnt want for the most part hence no need to give it a name

Jochem•2mo ago

also: They're both callback functions, one is just named, and one anonymous.

glutonium•2mo ago

yep

ἔρως•2mo ago

people should give it a name anyways its a lot easier to debug sayHello than [anonymous function] by the way, you can pass an async function as a callback, which is very useful if you want to await for fetch for example:

form.addEventListener('submit', async function submit(event) {
  event.preventDefault();
  
  let result = await fetch(form.getAttribute('action'), {
    method: form.getAttribute('method'),
    body: new FormData(form),
  });
  
  console.log(result);
});

form.addEventListener('submit', async function submit(event) {
  event.preventDefault();
  
  let result = await fetch(form.getAttribute('action'), {
    method: form.getAttribute('method'),
    body: new FormData(form),
  });
  
  console.log(result);
});

Vandana•2mo ago

So basically

 callBackFunction();

 callBackFunction();

calls sayHello

glutonium•2mo ago

yes

ἔρως•2mo ago

no, you have to pass the function as an argument

glutonium•2mo ago

ooh ya that

ἔρως•2mo ago

otherwise isnt a callback

glutonium•2mo ago

u have to also pass the function as argument

Vandana•2mo ago

where is the call for submit then??

ἔρως•2mo ago

its an event when the hypothetical form is submitted, it triggers the event

glutonium•2mo ago

iCallFunctions(sayHello); we are passing the sayHello function name so it knows which function to call function iCallFunctions(callbackFunction) here it is receiving the sayHello function as callBackFunction. after u do iCallFunctions(sayHello); , callbackFunction === sayHello then we do callbackFunction() to call the sayHello as callbackFunction

Vandana•2mo ago

And here?

glutonium•2mo ago

wut about it

Jochem•2mo ago

addEventListener is special. It registers the callback to be called once an event happens. There's no trigger inside your own code

Vandana•2mo ago

so here it registers async submit callback when submit happens right?

Jochem•2mo ago

it registers the callback, and that gets called when submit happens, yes it's not async unless you mark it as such with the async keyword, I think, but the code isn't executed right away so it's asynchronous that way?

ἔρως•2mo ago

yes, but without the async keyword, you cant use the await and you have to fallback to using the .then with callbacks

Vandana•2mo ago

code isn't executed right away not getting this

ἔρως•2mo ago

it gets executed only when the event is triggered and that may never happen or may happen a million times you just dont know

Vandana•2mo ago

Okay.

Jochem•2mo ago

It's not getting executed in top down order is what I meant, so not in the place in the code where it's written

Vandana•2mo ago

okay i got the working process of callBacks but what is the main benefit? Because somehow things get managed with normal functions only one benefit i can understand is the function may be called later

Jochem•2mo ago

There's times when you want to write a function that checks the same thing and then executes some code that can differ, but like I said, usually you're consuming functions that require a callback

glutonium•2mo ago

try to think how u would recreate addEventListener with normal functions without needing a callback or setTimeout or setInterval

Jochem•2mo ago

As a beginner I just wouldn't worry about how or why you'd write a function that takes a callback as an argument, and just focus on using them with the built-in or library functions

glutonium•2mo ago

even if u dont need to make one yourself u still have built in functions methods that require u to pass a callback function, so u still need to use them. hence they are important and i agree with Jochem. u dont have to worry about why or where YOU would need to make one but just know time to time u will need to use them when required. And u dont need to worry about how these callback functions are handled when u r dealing with built in methods and functions at least for now. later on at some point u can try to dig into how for example event handlers work and where your callback function gets executed and etc

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CallBack Functions