Why arrow function is not working in chrome extension content script?

Question

In my chrome extension's content script following code is not working:

var myFunction = () => {
  console.log("sending msg");
  chrome.runtime.sendMessage({ action: "myAction" });
}

But when I convert the arrow function to classic JS function it worked.

function myFunction() {
  console.log("sending msg");
  chrome.runtime.sendMessage({ action: "myAction" });
}

Why arrow function is not working?

What do you mean by "not working"? Are you getting an error? — Nick Parsons, Feb 11 '21 at 12:23
Probably a dupe: [var functionName = function() {} vs function functionName() {}](https://stackoverflow.com/q/336859) — Nick Parsons, Feb 11 '21 at 12:29

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 11 '21 at 12:26

1

I guess you have a hoisting issue. A regular function call can be anywhere in the code while const myFunction = ... is only callable after its declaration.

Example of working code:

myFunction();

function myFunction() {
  console.log('Yay');
}

Example of failing code:

myFunction(); // TypeError, myFunction is undefined at this point

var myFunction = () => console.log('Yay');

answered Feb 11 '21 at 12:26

Guerric P

20,579
2
28
66

1

Based on what little is in the question, this is the best guess I can think of. – T.J. Crowder Feb 11 '21 at 12:51
It worked. I called the function in two places. One of them is before the declaration which creates the error. Thanks. – miniature Feb 11 '21 at 12:55

Why arrow function is not working in chrome extension content script?

1 Answers1