The this keyword

Learn what this refers to inside a method and how it works.

What is this?

Inside a method, the this keyword refers to the object that calls the method. This lets the method access other properties of the object it belongs to.

const user = {
  name: 'Alex',
  greet() {
    return 'Hello ' + this.name;
  }
};
user.greet(); // 'Hello Alex'

Here this points to the user object; this.name reaches user.name. Whichever object calls the method, this binds to that object.

Accessing properties with this

Inside a method you can use this to read or change other properties of the same object. This lets methods manage the object's state.

const counter = {
  count: 0,
  increment() {
    this.count = this.count + 1;
    return this.count;
  }
};
counter.increment(); // 1
counter.increment(); // 2

Each call updates this.count on the same object's count property. The object remembers its own state.

Exercise Increase player score

The player object has a score property. Define an addPoints method with the shorthand: it takes a points parameter, adds it to this.score and returns the new value. Then call console.log(player.addPoints(50)).

Show example solution

const player = {
  score: 0,
  addPoints(points) {
    this.score = this.score + points;
    return this.score;
  }
};
console.log(player.addPoints(50));

Test yourself

What does this refer to inside user.greet()?
```
const user = {
  name: 'Alex',
  greet() { return this.name; }
};
user.greet();
```
- the greet function
- the user object
- the name variable
- the global window
Show answer

the user object — Correct! this refers to the user object that calls the method.

Return the name

const user = {
  name: 'Alex',
  getName() {
    return ____.name;
  }
};

Show answer

const user = {
  name: 'Alex',
  getName() {
    return this.name;
  }
};

Match this usage

this.name

object's name
this.count

object's counter
this.greet()

object's method

Next lesson: Summary - Objects

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