In Javascript, what's better than try/catch for exiting an outer scope?
- by gruseom
In Javascript, I sometimes want to return a value from a scope that isn't the current function. It might be a block of code within the function, or it might be an enclosing function as in the following example, which uses a local function to recursively search for something. As soon as it finds a solution, the search is done and the whole thing should just return. Unfortunately, I can't think of a simpler way to do this than by hacking try/catch for the purpose:
function solve(searchSpace) {
var search = function (stuff) {
solution = isItSolved(stuff);
if (solution) {
throw solution;
} else {
search(narrowThisWay(stuff));
search(narrowThatWay(stuff));
};
};
try {
return search(searchSpace);
} catch (solution) {
return solution;
};
};
I realize one could assign the solution to a local variable and then check it before making another recursive call, but my question is specifically about transfer of control. Is there a better way than the above? Perhaps involving label/break?
