Why does this cause an "invalid syntax" error with Google's Closure Compiler?

Question

If the following is passed into Google code closure:

return (function() {
    return true;
})();

it says there is a parsing error due to invalid syntax. What could be the problem?

Note that you are not returning an anonymous function but creating and calling an anonymous function. So this statement is equivalent to just return true;. — maerics
– maerics, Commented Mar 19, 2012 at 19:44

Greg Hewgill · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-19 19:34:17Z

4

If that is your entire code, the problem is that you can't have a return statement (the first one) outside a function definition. Try:

function foo() {
    return (function() {
        return true;
    })();
}

answered Mar 19, 2012 at 19:34

Greg Hewgill

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1 Comment

John Over a year ago

Agreed. You can use the compiler's output wrapper if you are trying to optimize an expression. Something like: --output_wrapper="return %output%"

JaredPar · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-19 19:48:57Z

3

The problem appears to be that you are using return as a top level construct (outside of any function body). You need to wrap it inside a context in which return is valid:

var example = function () {
  return (function() {
    return true;
  })();
};

edited Mar 19, 2012 at 19:48

user166390

answered Mar 19, 2012 at 19:35

JaredPar

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