Closure circular reference?

Question

Take a look at this piece of code

var obj = {
    foo: 5
};

var recursive = (function(){
    if(this.foo === 0){
        return;
    }

    this.foo--;
    recursive();
}).bind(obj);

Does the recursive function create a circular reference? If or if not, why?

EDIT: Circular reference between the function recursive and itself. I also found something similar here

What do you mean by "create"? What entities do you expect to be part of the reference graph? — Bergi, Oct 13 '17 at 13:28
*"Does the recursive function create a circular reference?"* Between what and what? — T.J. Crowder, Oct 13 '17 at 13:28
Between the function `recursive` and itself. I edited the post. — Juan Dela Cruz, Oct 13 '17 at 13:31
Why not just try it with an alert()? https://jsfiddle.net/#&togetherjs=xCifTQpoMU I can not tell you why it's not an endless loop though. — Akaino, Oct 13 '17 at 13:34

Bergi · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-13T13:38:23.303

2

Does the recursive function definition create a circular reference, like this one here?

Yes, it still does. bind doesn't change that, although it introduces an additional link in the reference circle.

The variable recursive holds the bound function
The bound function (created from the .bind() call) contains a slot with the original function
The original function (created from the function expression) closes over the variable scope that contains recursive

edited Oct 13 '17 at 13:38

answered Oct 13 '17 at 13:35

Bergi

How can I redesign it so it avoids a circular reference? – Juan Dela Cruz Oct 13 '17 at 13:37
3

@JuanDelaCruz You cannot, and you absolutely do not need to. – Bergi Oct 13 '17 at 13:38
Just to be clear, using a function expression is what makes it circular right? If I am to use a function definition without bind: `function recursive(){ recursive(); }` it wouldn't be circular? – Juan Dela Cruz Oct 13 '17 at 14:29
No, whenever a function refers to itself recursively there *must* be a circular reference somewhere, and it's the same for a function declaration. Why do you want to avoid this? – Bergi Oct 13 '17 at 14:36
Not really avoid, but I want to fully understand the concept and the nuances. – Juan Dela Cruz Oct 13 '17 at 14:43

1 Answers1