What is the difference between a local function and a normal function?

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#1

As always, I see things on the tutorials with “Local function”. I get very confused about how they work, however, it does something than the normal function. What could it possibly it be?

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#2

Local functions can only be used in one script, while normal functions (A.K.A. “Global Functions”) can be used from any script in the game.

Edit: see below, better explanation

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When do i use local and non-local functions?
#3

Just to give you an idea:

function foo()
    print("Foo.")
end

is exactly the same as

foo = function()
    print("Foo.")
end

and

local function foo()
    print("Foo.")
end

is exactly the same as

local foo = function()
    print("Foo.")
end

** with a small difference:

The first (function foo()) makes foo a global variable, and the other (local function foo()) makes foo a local variable. With that being said, as with any other variable, you should always declare functions as local.

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#4

I think the better term is “function environment”. For example, I can’t put a function inside a function and try to obtain it outside of the parent function even though it’s in the same script.

Note: I wonder if a global function inside of a local function is still globally accessible.

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#5

These two specifically are not exactly the same; they have a tiny difference in their scopes. Within the one defined as local function, foo (its name) can be accessed as an upvalue for recursion, while in the local foo = definition, it can not.

10 Likes
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#6

Makes sense. To give a concrete example:

You can do:

local function foo()
    foo()
end

But you can’t do:

local foo = function()
    foo()
end
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#7

You’re mixing up global functions and functions that are inside a shared table (_G or shared). Global functions are just when you do function something() instead of local function something().

3 Likes
#8

For the sake of completeness…

local function foo()
    print("Foo.")
    foo()
end

is exactly equivalent to

local foo
foo = function()
    print("Foo.")
    foo()
end
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#9

Does that mean you can require any script to make it happen?

2 Likes
#10

I heard calling local functions inside a local function is bad. is that True? Example:

local OnSpawn = function(Character)

end

local OnAdded = function(Player)

Player.CharacterAdded:Connect(OnSpawn)

end
game.Players.PlayerAdded:Connect(OnAdded)

Ima do local functions more like this.

#11

There’s nothing particularly wrong with this code, but it might make more sense to do local function name instead of local name = function.

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#12

To sum, it doesn’t matter, just make them local and that’s it

1 Like
#13

local function:

  • can access it after this was created. meaning put this at the top.

function:

  • can access any positions in a script. meaning you can access this even it is located at the top or bottom of the script, it doesn’t matter.

==Pros and Cons==

local function:

Pros:
optimized.

Cons:
cannot access when its at the bottom.

function:
Pros: Can access anywhere in a script.

Cons: not optimize

1 Like