ES6 Arrow Functions

Onkar Janwa -

What this article includes:

  • What is an arrow function?
  • When to not use an arrow function?
  • References to learn more

What is an arrow function?

Arrow functions was an addition with ES6 and are a syntactical alternative to regular functions. They are a shorter version of function definition.

// traditional function defination
function calculateArea(height, width) {
    return height * width;
}

// arrow function
(height, width) => height * width;

Multiple syntax for defining arrow functions.

// syntax 1
(height, width) => height * width;

// syntax 2
(height, width) => { height * width };

// syntax 3
(height, width) => {
    return height * width;
}

// when having one argument, we can define without brackets
height => height;

See how we can convert array map callback function into an arrow function.

// Array map with traditional callback
[{id: 1}, {id: 2}].map(function(record) {
    return record.id;
});

// Array map with call back defined using array function
[{id: 1}, {id: 2}].map(record => record.id);

When to not use an arrow function?

Arrow functions do not bind with this, arguments, super, and new.target keywords. Arrow function does not work as a constructor and will throw an error when used with new. Also arrow function does not have prototype property.

const person = {
    name: 'John',
    getName: function() {
        return this.name;
    }
}
person.getName(); // John

// run in browser
const person = {
    name: 'John',
    getName: () => this.name,
}
person.getName(); // ""

// Node.js
const person = {
    name: 'John',
    getName: () => this.name,
}
person.getName(); // undefined

References to learn more