Javascript Calling a nested function from within itself

Question

If I run the following...

function outer(){
    function inner(){
    }

    inner();
}

inner will run the first time as expected.

If I then try to run the following...

function outer(){
    function inner(){
        inner();
    }

    inner();
}

inner will again run the first time as expected, but then fails at any subsequent attempts, returning the error: ReferenceError: inner is not defined

If I expose the function to the global namespace it will work again...

function outer(){
    function inner(){
        inner();
    }

    window.inner = inner;
    inner();
}

Is there a way to reference the nested function from within itself WITHOUT adding it to the global namespace?

Gerard van Helden · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-12 18:30:26Z

4

You can assign the function to a local variable within the execution scope

function outer() {
    var inner;

    inner = function () {
        inner();
    }
    inner();
}

answered Jun 12, 2015 at 18:30

Gerard van Helden

1,61210 silver badges13 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

hm, I am still receiving 'inner is not defined' error message. I am calling inner from a setTimeout inside inner if that makes a difference.

Are you using quotes for the setTimeout? you don't need to, you can just pass any function instance.