Making Javascript Function inaccessible from console

Question

I am working on a javascript file with javascript functions that are not inside a closure.
Obviously the function is callable by the console.

I know that adding a closure is best practice. But while tinkering i found that if I add in my file

window.myFunction = {}

the function becomes unavailable through the console. Is this safe ?

That assigns a new empty object as the value of your function, and so, your function won't be a function any more. You won't be able to call it in the console or anywhere else. — Pappa
– Pappa, Commented Jan 26, 2016 at 20:19
In fact what happened to me was I created an instance of the object and then set it to {}, that's why it worked (because later I was calling the instance and not the object itself) — Anthony N.
– Anthony N., Commented Jan 26, 2016 at 21:52

Marcos Casagrande · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-26 20:38:02Z

2

All global variables/functions in Javascript (Browser) are a property of the window object:

var x = "foo";
console.log(window.x); //foo

It's not best practice to pollute the global scope, but it isn't "unsafe" if you control which scripts your page uses. (Although I don't recommend using global variables)

If you do need to have a global variable, consider using a name that you know other script won't use:

(function(window, undefined){
   var privateVar = 5;

   window.mySite = {
     foo: "bar",
     func: function(){
        return "foo";
     }
   };

})(window);

console.log(window.mySite.func()); //"foo"
console.log(privateVar) //undefined

Now outside of the IIFE (Immediately-Invoked Function Expression) you can use window.mySite or just mySite, while privateVar won't be accessible.

More info on the window object here

edited Jan 26, 2016 at 20:38

answered Jan 26, 2016 at 20:20

Marcos Casagrande

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