Self execute function odd behaviour?

Question

I have this self execute function that call itself:

(function a(x){
    if(x > 0){
        x--;
        console.log(x);
    }
    a(x);
})(5);
//outputs 4 3 2 1 0

This is correct behaviour . But if i pass this function to a variable how i can achieve the same behaviour?

var a = (function (x){
    if(x > 0){
        x--;
        console.log(x);
    }
    //a(x); outputs error
})(5);

I'm pretty sure `a` is undefined at this point (and always will btw) — MightyPork, Jan 17 '15 at 21:37
Here **a** is not a function, but holds return value of function that is undefined — Sangram Chavan, Jan 17 '15 at 21:39
possible duplicate of [javascript: recursive anonymous function?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3883780/javascript-recursive-anonymous-function) — Ruud Helderman, Jan 17 '15 at 21:43

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 17 '15 at 21:38

4

In the second case, the result of your Immediately Invoked Function Expression (IIFE), which will be undefined, is assigned to the variable a. Thus, a does not have a function associated with it.

answered Jan 17 '15 at 21:38

James Sumners

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Thanks for the answer. Is possible to achieve the same result with my first example? – user2019037 Jan 17 '15 at 21:42
Why don't you just create a function? Or assign a function expression to `a`? e.g. `var a = function a(x) { return x+1; };` – James Sumners Jan 17 '15 at 21:43
var a =function(x){ if(x > 0){ x--; alert(x); } a(x); }; a(5); – Sangram Chavan Jan 17 '15 at 21:45

Self execute function odd behaviour?

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