Which of these setTimeout format is better?

Question

Which of these constructs is better and why ``` setTimeout(function() { $('#secret').hide(); }, 5000); setTimeout( "$('#secret').hide();", 5000); $('#secret').show(5000, function(){ this.hide(xxx)} ); ```

Accepted Answer

The first one for sure, it uses an anonymous function to capture the function to execute after the timeout.

Second one uses `eval()` to evaluate your string, which would probably be slower than the first option (nevermind the arguments for why using `eval()` is bad).

Third one shows the element over 5 seconds and then hides as soon as it completes, therefore is different from the first.

UPDATE:

nickf's update prompted me to look through the source and number 3 will execute immediately if the element is already visible. Here are the relevant lines of source code

```
if ( prop[p] == "hide" && hidden || prop[p] == "show" && !hidden ) 
    return opt.complete.call(this);
```

Which of these setTimeout format is better?

Solution

Problem