6.4 Method Values and Expressions

Usually we select and call a method in the same expression, as in p.Distance(), but it’s possible to separate these two operations. The selector p.Distance yields a method value, a function that binds a method (Point.Distance) to a specific receiver value p. This function can then be invoked without a receiver value; it needs only the non-receiver arguments.

Click here to view code image

p := Point{1, 2}
q := Point{4, 6}

distanceFromP := p.Distance        // method value
fmt.Println(distanceFromP(q))      // "5"
var origin Point                   // {0, 0}
fmt.Println(distanceFromP(origin)) // "2.23606797749979", √5

scaleP := p.ScaleBy // method value
scaleP(2)           // p becomes (2, 4)
scaleP(3)           //      then (6, 12)
scaleP(10)          //      then (60, 120)

Method values are useful when a package’s API calls for a function value, and the client’s desired behavior for that function is to call a method on a specific receiver. For example, the function time.AfterFunc calls a function value after a specified delay. This program uses it to launch the rocket r after 10 seconds:

Click here to view code image

type Rocket struct { /* ... */ }
func (r *Rocket) Launch() { /* ... */ }

r := new(Rocket)
time.AfterFunc(10 * time.Second, func() { r.Launch() })

The method value syntax is shorter:

Click here to view code image

time.AfterFunc(10 * time.Second, r.Launch)

Related to the method value is the method expression. When calling a method, as opposed to an ordinary function, we must supply the receiver in a special way using the selector syntax. A method expression, written T.f or (*T).f where T is a type, yields a function value with a regular first parameter taking the place of the receiver, so it can be called in the usual way.

Click here to view code image

p := Point{1, 2}
q := Point{4, 6}

distance := Point.Distance   // method expression
fmt.Println(distance(p, q))  // "5"
fmt.Printf("%T\n", distance) // "func(Point, Point) float64"

scale := (*Point).ScaleBy
scale(&p, 2)
fmt.Println(p)            // "{2 4}"
fmt.Printf("%T\n", scale) // "func(*Point, float64)"

Method expressions can be helpful when you need a value to represent a choice among several methods belonging to the same type so that you can call the chosen method with many different receivers. In the following example, the variable op represents either the addition or the subtraction method of type Point, and Path.TranslateBy calls it for each point in the Path:

Click here to view code image

type Point struct{ X, Y float64 }

func (p Point) Add(q Point) Point { return Point{p.X + q.X, p.Y + q.Y} }
func (p Point) Sub(q Point) Point { return Point{p.X - q.X, p.Y - q.Y} }

type Path []Point

func (path Path) TranslateBy(offset Point, add bool) {
    var op func(p, q Point) Point
    if add {
        op = Point.Add
    } else {
        op = Point.Sub
    }
    for i := range path {
        // Call either path[i].Add(offset) or path[i].Sub(offset).
        path[i] = op(path[i], offset)
    }
}