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satish-rajnale
satish-rajnale

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JavaScript function add(1)(2)(3)(4) to achieve infinite accumulation-step by step principle analysis

Question: We have a requirement to implement an infinitely cumulative function with js, like

add(1) //=> 1;
add(1)(2) //=> 2;
add(1)(2)( 3) //=> 6;
add(1)(2)(3)(4) //=> 10;
and so on...

At first glance, it looks amazing. Now I will implement such an add() function step by step.

  1. we now define a toSting() method for the function sum
function sum(a){
    return  a+1;
}
sum.toString = function(){return 2;}
console.log(sum);
typeof(sum)
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After defining the sum.toString method, if you directly console.log(sum), this function will be printed out. If you directly alert(sum), we can see that "2" will pop up. Let's check the type of sum (typeof(sum)),

Obviously sum is a function.

  1. Okay, now let's wrap this sum function in a 'closure' -:)
function add(a){
 function sum(a){
    return  a+1;
 }
 sum.toString = function(){return a;}
 return sum;
}
console.log(add(3));
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In the above code, we have wrapped the previous code with a layer, and also modified the sum.toString() method so that it returns the parameter a passed in from the outside, instead of the previously fixed 2.
After wrapping a layer, the return value is a function, thus forming a closure. In this way, when we call add(3), the return value is actually a function, the function sum inside.

However, when we alert(sum(3)), 3 will pop up.

  1. Last step
function add(a){
 function sum(b){
    a =   a+b;
    return sum;
 }
 sum.toString = function(){return a;}
 return sum;
}
console.log(add(1)(2)(3)(4));
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At this point, we can see that the above console.log(add(1)(2)(3)(4)); this sentence prints out a function, function 10, in fact, when alert(add(1)(2 )(3)(4));, it will pop up 10.
This is the implementation process of add(1)(2)(3)(4);, obviously, our accumulating function can be called infinitely. -:)

The whole realization process is two key points.

  1. Use closures and have a deep understanding of JavaScript's scope chain (prototype chain);

  2. Rewrite the toSting() method of the function;

let's analyze add(1)(2)(3);step by step:

a) Execute add(1);

What is returned is the sum function inside. Through the closure, the variable a=1 in the sum function can be accessed; so when we alert(add(1));, the toSting() method called will change the scope (prototype chain ) The inside a = 1 pops up.

b) Execute add(1)(2);
<=== is equivalent to ===> sum(2);
This is equivalent to passing 2 to b in the sum() function, so that a in the scope (prototype chain) = a+b, at this time a = 3, continue to be saved in the scope. Then it returns to the sum function.

c) Execute add(1)(2)(3);
<=== is equivalent to ===> sum(3);
Same as the analysis in (step b) above, except that a = 6 in the scope is updated, and then the sum function is also returned.

Top comments (4)

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priyapandian profile image
priya pandian

`var sum = function(a) {
return function(b) {
if(b) {
return sum(a + b);
}
return a;
}
}

console.log(sum(1)(2)());
console.log(sum(1)(2)(5)());
console.log(sum(1)(2)(5)(5)(6)(1)());`

This should solve the closure infinite times.

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tarasankarkundu profile image
tarasankarkundu • Edited

This doesn't work as expected for me in browser console. Did I miss something?

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amanjaiswal profile image
Aman Jaiswal

try:-
function add(a) {
function sum(b) {
a = a + b;
return sum;
}
sum.getValue = function () {
return a;
};
return sum;
}
console.log(add(1)(2)(3)(4)); // will return sum function
console.log(add(1)(2)(3)(4).getValue()); // will return 10

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ba_a_aiib profile image
Prasanajit Bhadra

function add(a){
function sum(b){
a = a+b;
return sum;
}
sum.toString = function(){return a;}
return sum;
}
console.log(add(1)(2)(3)(4).toString());

Here is the solution.