Why can't I pass "window.location.reload" as an argument to setTimeout?
cross-browser, javascript
Solution
Because `reload()` needs `window.location` as `this`. In other words - it is a method of `window.location`. When you say:
var fun = window.location.reload;
fun();
You are calling `reload()` function without any `this` reference (or with implicit `window` reference).
This should work:
setTimeout(window.location.reload.bind(window.location), 250);
The `window.location.reload.bind(window.location)` part means: take `window.location.reload` function and return a function that, when called, will use `window.location` as `this` reference inside `reload()`.
See also
- How can I pass an argument to a function called using setTimeout?
- Why doesn't console.log work when passed as a parameter to forEach?
- Preserve 'this' reference in javascript prototype event handler
Problem
I would love some insight into the error I am seeing in Safari and Chrome with the following line of code: `setTimeout(window.location.reload, 250);` Chrome reports: `Uncaught TypeError: Illegal invocation` And Safari: `TypeError: Type error` In FireFox, the code runs fine. Also, this code runs fine in each of the three browsers: ``` setTimeout((function() { window.location.reload(); }), 250); ``` Chrome and Safari have no issues with this code: ``` var say_hello = function () { alert("hello") }; setTimeout(say_hello, 250); ``` What is special about `window.location.reload` that causes this error? (not sure if it's useful or not, but here's a jsfiddle illustrating this)