A JavaScript function does not perform any checking on parameter values (arguments).
Earlier in this tutorial, you learned that functions can have parameters:
Function parameters are the names listed in the function definition.
Function arguments are the real values passed to (and received by) the function.
JavaScript function definitions do not specify data types for parameters.
JavaScript functions do not perform type checking on the passed arguments.
JavaScript functions do not check the number of arguments received.
If a function is called with missing arguments (less than declared), the missing values are set to: undefined
Sometimes this is acceptable, but sometimes it is better to assign a default value to the parameter:
Or, even simpler:
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If y is defined, y || returns y, because y is true, otherwise it returns 0, because undefined is false. |
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If a function is called with too many arguments (more than declared), these arguments cannot be referred, because they don't have a name. They can only be reached in the arguments object.
JavaScript functions have a built-in object called the arguments object.
The argument object contains an array of the arguments used when the function was called (invoked).
This way you can simply use a function to find (for instance) the highest value in a list of numbers:
Or create a function to summarize all input values:
The parameters, in a function call, are the function's arguments.
JavaScript arguments are passed by value: The function only gets to know the values, not the argument's locations.
If a function changes an argument's value, it does not change the parameter's original value.
Changes to arguments are not visible (reflected) outside the function.
In JavaScript, object references are values.
Because of this, it looks like objects are passed by reference:
If a function changes an object property, it changes the original value.
Changes to object properties are visible (reflected) outside the function.
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