What is the difference between module.function and module:function?

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#1

I have always wrote my modules like this:

module = {}
function module:ARandomFunction()
    print(“hello”)
end
return module

But I noticed most people do this:

module = {}
function module.ARandomFunction()
    print(“hello”)
end
return module

What’s the difference (If any)?

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#2

The difference is

function a:b()

end

is syntax sugar (a nicer way to write something) for

function a.b(self)

end

Which itself is syntax sugar for

a.b = function(self)

end

The call a:b() is the same as a.b(a).

Though please search before posting. I was able to find these:

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#3

When calling a function with a colon (:), it implicitly sets self to the table of the function called. module:Hello() is also sugar syntax for module.Hello(module)

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#4

I have searched for this topic but was unsuccessful. I’m not sure why I didn’t come across those. Thanks for the example though.

#5

Also which method is the preferred option?

#6

One is not necessarily better than the other. They have their uses. For instance, if you are making a class and you want to define a method you use : because a method is a member function so you want to call it on an instance of a class

Otherwise you use a . if you are not working in an OOP environment

#7

Ok thanks! Also the first of the two topics you sent is not relevant