jcuffe/javascript-ii-mini

JavaScript II Mini

Topics we will cover

• Recursion
• the this keyword
• constructor functions
• classes

Instructions

• This repository is provided as more of a follow along structure.

• In class we will be going over the principles listed above and you will be expected to follow along when the instructor asks you to do so.

Recursion

What it is

• recursion is another way to represent a looping program.
• Simliar to a for loop or a while loop a recursive function will loop until you tell it to stop.
• when solving complex algorithms recursion comes in handy. It is not that great for smaller, less complex algorithms.
• For every recursive function, you'll need to establish what is called a base case. A base case is a condition that when triggered, will discontinue the call to your function.

The this keyword

• Because JavaScript is both an Object Oriented and Functional Programming language, it has some very interesting concepts built into it.
• The 'this' keyword is one of those querky concepts that tend to trip up a lot of people coming into JavaScript.
• You can think of this, as a Pointer to an object. For example, you can use the this keyword to reference an object without having to refer to that object's name.
• example

  const myObj = { 
    name: 'Freddy' 
    greet: function() {
      console.log(`hello my name is ${this.name}`);
    }
  };
  myObj.greet();

• In the above example the "this" keyword becomes active when a person's name is called.
• Tyler McGinnis' four rules to the 'this' keyword. found here
  1. Window Binding
  2. Implicit Binding
  3. New Binding
  4. Explicit Binding