Javascript Function Question

[Mike]

Hello,
I have a function called stateChanged:
function stateChanged()
{
alert(xmlHttp.readyState)
if (xmlHttp.readyState==4)....................
...............................
}



When I call it with:
xmlHttp.onreadystatechange=stateChanged()
I get an error: Type mismatch.
When I call it with
xmlHttp.onreadystatechange=stateChanged
It runs fine.
Whats wrong with the parenthesis in the function call?
Thanks
Mike

 

[Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn]

I have a function called stateChanged:
function stateChanged()
{
alert(xmlHttp.readyState)

Should be

window.alert(xmlHttp.readyState);

and presumably the whole thing should not be a Function statement but a
Function expression that creates a closure (else you need globals which are
very bad style, or a wrapper object that I don't see here).

if (xmlHttp.readyState==4)....................

Don't forget to test the `status' property as well. A response may be fully
received but indicate an error.

..............................

Your dot key is malfunctioning.

}

When I call it with:
xmlHttp.onreadystatechange=stateChanged()
I get an error: Type mismatch.
When I call it with
xmlHttp.onreadystatechange=stateChanged
It runs fine.

Because that is _not_ a call, it is only an assignment expression, as expected.

Whats wrong with the parenthesis in the function call?

This is about a *callback*. The call itself must be made by the
XHR implementation (which "knows" about the status change of the
request-response-chain), not by you. Calling the function yourself
results in the property being assigned the *return value* of the
function, which so far is `undefined'.

I suppose a value of the object type is expected there, `null' or
a Function object reference, instead.

See also http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/AJAX


PointedEars