Handling \'this\' Reference in Prototype Methods with setInterval and setTimeout: What are the Solutions?

Handling this Reference in Prototype Methods with setInterval and setTimeout

In JavaScript, a prototype method loses its this association when extracted and passed elsewhere. Consider the following code:

function Foo() {}
Foo.prototype = {
  bar: function () {
    this.baz();
  },
  baz: function () {
    this.draw();
    requestAnimFrame(this.baz);
  }
};

This code fails with an error because this is not properly bound inside the setInterval or setTimeout callbacks.

Solutions:

There are several ways to handle this issue:

Wrap Method Call in Anonymous Function:

var that = this;
setInterval(function () {
  return that.baz();
}, 1000);

This preserves the this from the outer function using a helper variable.

Wrap Method Call in Fat Arrow Function:

setInterval(() => this.baz(), 1000);

Fat arrow anonymous functions maintain the this from the surrounding function.

Use a Binding Function:

setInterval(this.baz.bind(this), 1000);

// dojo toolkit example:
setInterval(dojo.hitch(this, 'baz'), 10);

Binding functions like Function.prototype.bind or library equivalents allow you to explicitly bind the this context.

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