toggling variable inside Module Pattern using function declaration vs function expression

Question

I have a module pattern with a variable setting the currentPlayer to 1. I use a function expression to toggle that variable

 const game = (() => {
    let currentPlayer = 1;

    const toggleCurrentPlayer = () => {
        if (currentPlayer == 1){
            currentPlayer = 2 ;
        }
        else {
            currentPlayer = 1;
        }
    };
    return {currentPlayer, toggleCurrentPlayer};
})();

If I run game.currentPlayer it logs 1, I then run game.toggleCurrentPlayer(), and it doesn't change currentPlayer as intended, it still returns 1.

However, changing the toggleCurrentPlayer() function using this, seems to be able to change the variable successfully

function toggleCurrentPlayer(){
    if (this.currentPlayer == 1){      
        this.currentPlayer=2;
    }
    else if (this.currentPlayer == 2){
        this.currentPlayer=1;
    }
};

I know function declarations and function expressions have different meanings for the keyword this, but why would the toggleCurrentPlayer() only work properly with the this keyword and not be able to set the variable on its own?

Answer 1

When the function does

return {currentPlayer, toggeleCurrentPlayer};

It copies the initial value of the currentPlayer variable into the object.

The returned object contains the value of the variable, not a reference to the variable itself. Reassigning the variable has no effect on the object.

What you can do instead is create an object inside the function, and modify that.

const game = (() => {
  let obj = {
    currentPlayer: 1,
    toggleCurrentPlayer: () => {
      if (obj.currentPlayer == 1) {
        obj.currentPlayer = 2;
      } else {
        obj.currentPlayer = 1;
      }
    }
  };
  return obj;
})();

console.log(game.currentPlayer);
game.toggleCurrentPlayer();
console.log(game.currentPlayer);

Another way to do it is with a getter function that retrieves the variable.

const game = (() => {
    let currentPlayer = 1;

    const toggleCurrentPlayer = () => {
        if (currentPlayer == 1){
            currentPlayer = 2 ;
        }
        else {
            currentPlayer = 1;
        }
    };
    const getCurrentPlayer = () => currentPlayer
    return {getCurrentPlayer, toggleCurrentPlayer};
})();

console.log(game.getCurrentPlayer());
game.toggleCurrentPlayer();
console.log(game.getCurrentPlayer());