What are the differences between first-class functions and methods?

What are the differences between first-class functions and methods?

First-class functions are treated as first-class citizens in programming, meaning they can be assigned to variables, passed as arguments, and returned from other functions. Methods, on the other hand, are functions that are associated with an object and can operate on the data contained within that object.

Can you give me an example of a first-class function?

Sure! In JavaScript, you can define a function and assign it to a variable like this:

const greet = function(name) {
    return `Hello, ${name}!`;
};

Here, greet is a first-class function.

How about an example of a method?

Certainly! In JavaScript, if you have an object like this:

const person = {
    name: 'Alice',
    greet: function() {
        return `Hello, ${this.name}!`;
    }
};

The greet function is a method because it is associated with the person object.

Are there any advantages to using first-class functions?

Yes, first-class functions allow for more flexible and modular code. They enable higher-order functions, which can take other functions as arguments or return them, leading to powerful programming patterns like callbacks and functional programming.