Space before left parenthesis in anonymous function literals

From Crockford:

If a function literal is anonymous, there should be one space between the word function and the ( (left parenthesis). If the space is omited, then it can appear that the function’s name is function, which is an incorrect reading.

div.onclick = function (e) {
  return false;
};

that = {
  method: function () {
    return this.datum;
  },
  datum: 0
};

Source: Code Conventions for the JavaScript Programming Language

[leizhao4]

@matbhz I don’t think it’s a whole thing. The full expression syntax is function [name]() {} where function is a keyword meaning we are going to declare a function, followed by a space and an optional name, and a parameter list, and the function body. The function name is optional but I don’t think the space should go away. Having a space in function () {} clearly shows that the function has no name.

The function name and () is a whole thing. But the function keyword is outside of it.

[leizhao4]

I vote for the Crockford style. function is a keyword which should be followed by a space. Just like in if (), for () and while (). I find function() as ugly as if(), for() and while().

Also I find it easier to identify an anonymous function by using the space, which clearly shows that the function has no name. var functionName = function [optionalName]()