how to call function inside a function with setTimeout

Question

I am trying to call a function with setTimeout() inside another function and I keep getting this error:

hi is not defined

This is the code.

hello("hi");
function hello(a)
{
    hi(a);
    function hi(b)
    {
        console.log(b);
        c = setTimeout('hi("' + b + '")', 50)
    }
}

One "hi" is being logged, but then it just stops. I believe problem is in this part: c = setTimeout('hi("' + b + '")', 50)

Is there a fix without changing function inside function structure?

You're calling `hi` before you've defined it. (edit: nope...) — evolutionxbox, Jul 06 '17 at 11:46
calling before or after defining hi gave me the same results, so I didn't bother. Similar to duplicate but setTimeout has the child function not the parent. Thank You all though. — Martynas Jakas, Jul 06 '17 at 11:53
@evolutionxbox your second comment is right. It's duplicate. sorry about that. must have missed it — Martynas Jakas, Jul 06 '17 at 11:54

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 06 '17 at 11:46

2

You can pass arguments to function as third argument to setTimeout.

hello("hi");
function hello(a)
{
    hi(a);
    function hi(b)
    {
        console.log(b);
        c = setTimeout(hi, 50,b)
    }
}

answered Jul 06 '17 at 11:46

Dinesh undefined

5,490
2
19
40

works perfectly. Thank you. – Martynas Jakas Jul 06 '17 at 11:56
Didn't let me accept the answer that fast =) – Martynas Jakas Jul 06 '17 at 11:59

Jeremy Thille · Answer 2 · 2017-07-06T11:55:02.617

0

c = setTimeout( () => hi(b), 50 ) should work.

Edit (thanks to @evolutionxbox in the comments)

c = setTimeout( hi, 50, b ) looks even better.

You're getting this error :

hi is not defined

at line 4 : hi(a)

The execution is not even making it to the timeout part. The timeout itself won't produce an error, but won't do anything either, because 'hi("' + b + '")' is a string, not a function.

edited Jul 06 '17 at 11:55

answered Jul 06 '17 at 11:46

Jeremy Thille

26,047
12
43
63

You can also pass parameters without defining another function... https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/API/WindowOrWorkerGlobalScope/setTimeout – evolutionxbox Jul 06 '17 at 11:47
You mean `setTimeout( hi(b), 50 )` ? But then I believe you run into a context problem. If you want to keep the same context, you'll have to do `setTimeout( hi.call(this, b), 50 )` – Jeremy Thille Jul 06 '17 at 11:51
I don't think I meant that. I meant `setTimeout(hi, 50, b)` – evolutionxbox Jul 06 '17 at 11:53
Oh, I didn't know this notation, good to know, thanks. – Jeremy Thille Jul 06 '17 at 11:53
Thank both of you. All the answers are perfect. – Martynas Jakas Jul 06 '17 at 11:58

how to call function inside a function with setTimeout

2 Answers2