rhai/doc/src/language/functions.md
2020-07-08 09:48:25 +08:00

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Functions
=========
{{#include ../links.md}}
Rhai supports defining functions in script (unless disabled with [`no_function`]):
```rust
fn add(x, y) {
return x + y;
}
fn sub(x, y,) { // trailing comma in parameters list is OK
return x - y;
}
add(2, 3) == 5;
sub(2, 3,) == -1; // trailing comma in arguments list is OK
```
Implicit Return
---------------
Just like in Rust, an implicit return can be used. In fact, the last statement of a block is _always_ the block's return value
regardless of whether it is terminated with a semicolon `';'`. This is different from Rust.
```rust
fn add(x, y) { // implicit return:
x + y; // value of the last statement (no need for ending semicolon)
// is used as the return value
}
fn add2(x) {
return x + 2; // explicit return
}
add(2, 3) == 5;
add2(42) == 44;
```
No Access to External Scope
--------------------------
Functions are not _closures_. They do not capture the calling environment and can only access their own parameters.
They cannot access variables external to the function itself.
```rust
let x = 42;
fn foo() { x } // <- syntax error: variable 'x' doesn't exist
```
Global Definitions Only
----------------------
Functions can only be defined at the global level, never inside a block or another function.
```rust
// Global level is OK
fn add(x, y) {
x + y
}
// The following will not compile
fn do_addition(x) {
fn add_y(n) { // <- syntax error: functions cannot be defined inside another function
n + y
}
add_y(x)
}
```
Use Before Definition
--------------------
Unlike C/C++, functions in Rhai can be defined _anywhere_ at global level.
A function does not need to be defined prior to being used in a script;
a statement in the script can freely call a function defined afterwards.
This is similar to Rust and many other modern languages, such as JavaScript's `function` keyword.
Arguments Passed by Value
------------------------
Functions defined in script always take [`Dynamic`] parameters (i.e. the parameter can be of any type).
Therefore, functions with the same name and same _number_ of parameters are equivalent.
It is important to remember that all arguments are passed by _value_, so all Rhai script-defined functions
are _pure_ (i.e. they never modify their arguments).
Any update to an argument will **not** be reflected back to the caller.
```rust
fn change(s) { // 's' is passed by value
s = 42; // only a COPY of 's' is changed
}
let x = 500;
change(x);
x == 500; // 'x' is NOT changed!
```
`this` - Simulating an Object Method
-----------------------------------
Functions can also be called in method-call style. When this is the case, the keyword '`this`'
binds to the object in the method call and can be changed.
```rust
fn change() { // not that the object does not need a parameter
this = 42; // 'this' binds to the object in method-call
}
let x = 500;
x.change(); // call 'change' in method-call style, 'this' binds to 'x'
x == 42; // 'x' is changed!
change(); // <- error: `this` is unbounded
```