Generating a list of functions based on an array in Javascript

Question

I am just wondering if there is a way in JavaScript where I can create a new list of functions based on all "name" values in the object.

For example, with the following object:

var object_ = [{"name": "first_function", "child": ["1a", "1b"]},
               {"name": "second_function", "child": ["2a", "2b"]},
               {"name": "third_function", "child": ["3a", "3b"]}];

I would like to create the following functions:

function first_function(){
      console.log("1a, 1b");
};

function second_function(){
      console.log("2a, 2b");
};

function third_function(){
      console.log("3a, 3b");
};

Thank you

What is your use case and what higher level problem are you trying to solve? — charlietfl
– charlietfl, Commented Nov 28, 2017 at 5:42
Are you trying to pass references to functions to console.log()? Or are you trying to invoke the functions and pass the output of those functions to console.log()? — Drew Wills
– Drew Wills, Commented Nov 28, 2017 at 5:43
Sorry for being unclear previously. I have edited the description. — Fxs7576
– Fxs7576, Commented Nov 28, 2017 at 5:54

Bryce · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-28 05:58:28Z

If, given a list of metadata to create functions with:

var functionData = [
    { name: 'first_function', children: ['1a', '1b'] },
    { name: 'second_function', children: ['2a', '2b'] },
];

We can dynamically create a function by the name of each one's name property:

functionData.forEach(({name, children}) => {
    // create a function and put it under that name
    this[name] = () => {
        // and make sure it logs the corresponding data
        console.log(...children);
    }
})

Which, for example can then be called like so:

first_function();
// logs "1a", "1b"

Or even:

this[functionData[0].name]();
// logs "1a", "1b"

I added the functions to the this object just as an example.

This works for a non-strict-mode browser console; because an unqualified reference to a function tries to look for it on the window, which is the this context in that environment.

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