Assigning a variable to a function (without the parenthesis) copies the reference to the function. Putting the parenthesis at the end of a function name, calls the function, returning the functions return value.
function a() {
alert('A');
}
//alerts 'A', returns undefined
function b() {
alert('B');
return a;
}
//alerts 'B', returns function a
function c() {
alert('C');
return a();
}
//alerts 'C', alerts 'A', returns undefined
alert("Function 'a' returns " + a());
alert("Function 'b' returns " + b());
alert("Function 'c' returns " + c());
In your example, you are also defining functions within a function. Such as:
function d() {
function e() {
alert('E');
}
return e;
}
d()();
//alerts 'E'
The function is still callable. It still exists. This is used in JavaScript all the time. Functions can be passed around just like other values. Consider the following:
function counter() {
var count = 0;
return function() {
alert(count++);
}
}
var count = counter();
count();
count();
count();
The function count can keep the variables that were defined outside of it. This is called a closure. It's also used a lot in JavaScript.
