Official explanation
"Closure" is an environment expression (usually a function) that has many variables and binds these variables, so these variables are also part of the environment expression.
Popular explanation
All functions in Javascript are closures. But generally speaking, the closure generated by nested functions is more powerful, which is what we call "closure" most of the time. Look at the following code:
After executing var c=a() in this script, the variable c actually points to Function b is used, and variable i is used in b. After executing c(), a window will pop up to display the value of i. This code is actually a closure. Why? Because variable c outside function a refers to function b inside function a.
Garbage collection mechanism of Javascript
Due to the special garbage collection mechanism of JavaScript, closures are generated. The general rules of the Javascript garbage collection mechanism are as follows:
In JavaScript, if an object is no longer referenced, then the object will be recycled by the GC. If two objects refer to each other and are no longer referenced by a third party, then the two objects that refer to each other will also be recycled. In the above script, function a is referenced by b, and function b is referenced by c outside function a. This is why function a is not recycled after execution.
Application scenarios of closures
1. Protect variables within functions. Taking the above example as an example, variable i in function a can only be accessed by function b and cannot be accessed through other means, thus protecting the security of i.
2. Maintain a variable in memory. Still as in the above example, due to closure, i in function a always exists in memory, so every time c() is executed, i will be incremented by 1.
3. Implement JS private properties and private methods by protecting the security of variables (cannot be accessed externally). As follows, private properties and private methods are inaccessible outside the Constructor:
function Constructor(…){
var that = this;
var membername = value;
function membername(…){…}
}