Closures JavaScript Explicadas: Escopo, Memória e Padrões do Mundo Real

Closures are one of the most fundamental and powerful features in JavaScript. A closure is created when a function is defined inside another function and retains access to the outer function's variables even after the outer function has returned. Understanding closures deeply will change how you architect JavaScript code — from module patterns to React hooks.

What is a Closure?

Every time a function is created in JavaScript, a closure is formed. The function "closes over" its surrounding lexical environment — the variables in scope at the time of the function's definition.

// What is a closure?
// A closure is a function that has access to variables
// from its outer (enclosing) lexical scope, even after
// that scope has returned.

function makeCounter() {
  let count = 0;    // private variable in the outer scope

  return function() {
    count++;        // inner function accesses outer variable
    return count;
  };
}

const counter = makeCounter();
console.log(counter()); // 1
console.log(counter()); // 2
console.log(counter()); // 3

// count is NOT accessible from outside:
// console.log(count); // ReferenceError!

// Each call to makeCounter() creates a NEW closure
const counter2 = makeCounter();
console.log(counter2()); // 1 (independent state)
console.log(counter());  // 4 (original counter continues)

Scope Chain and Variable Capture

Closures capture variables by reference, not by value. This is a source of both power and common bugs.

// Closure captures the ENTIRE scope chain, not just one level
const globalVar = 'global';

function outer() {
  const outerVar = 'outer';

  function middle() {
    const middleVar = 'middle';

    function inner() {
      // Has access to ALL enclosing scopes
      console.log(globalVar);  // 'global'
      console.log(outerVar);   // 'outer'
      console.log(middleVar);  // 'middle'
    }

    inner();
  }

  middle();
}

outer();

// Variables are captured by REFERENCE, not by value
function makeAdder(x) {
  // x is captured by reference
  return function(y) {
    return x + y;   // x is still accessible
  };
}

const add5 = makeAdder(5);
const add10 = makeAdder(10);

console.log(add5(3));   // 8
console.log(add10(3));  // 13

The Classic Loop Bug (and Fixes)

The most infamous closure bug: using var in a loop with asynchronous callbacks. Understanding this reveals exactly how closures capture variables.

// CLASSIC BUG: var in loops (before let/const existed)

// Wrong: all callbacks share the same i variable
for (var i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
  setTimeout(function() {
    console.log(i);   // prints 3, 3, 3 (not 0, 1, 2!)
  }, 100);
}
// Reason: var is function-scoped, one shared i that becomes 3

// Fix 1: use let (creates a new binding per iteration)
for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
  setTimeout(function() {
    console.log(i);   // prints 0, 1, 2 ✓
  }, 100);
}

// Fix 2: IIFE (Immediately Invoked Function Expression) — old school
for (var i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
  (function(capturedI) {
    setTimeout(function() {
      console.log(capturedI);  // prints 0, 1, 2 ✓
    }, 100);
  })(i);
}

// Fix 3: factory function
function makeTimeout(index) {
  return function() {
    console.log(index);  // captured by value in this scope
  };
}

for (var i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
  setTimeout(makeTimeout(i), 100);   // 0, 1, 2 ✓
}

Practical Closure Patterns

Closures enable several powerful programming patterns: the module pattern, memoization, partial application, and more.

// CLOSURE PATTERNS

// 1. Module Pattern — private state with public API
const bankAccount = (function() {
  let balance = 0;    // private

  return {
    deposit(amount) {
      balance += amount;
      return balance;
    },
    withdraw(amount) {
      if (amount > balance) throw new Error('Insufficient funds');
      balance -= amount;
      return balance;
    },
    getBalance() {
      return balance;
    },
  };
})();

bankAccount.deposit(100);
bankAccount.withdraw(30);
console.log(bankAccount.getBalance());  // 70
// console.log(balance); // ReferenceError

// 2. Memoization — cache expensive computations
function memoize(fn) {
  const cache = new Map();   // cache lives in the closure

  return function(...args) {
    const key = JSON.stringify(args);
    if (cache.has(key)) {
      console.log('cache hit');
      return cache.get(key);
    }
    const result = fn.apply(this, args);
    cache.set(key, result);
    return result;
  };
}

const slowFibonacci = (n) => n <= 1 ? n : slowFibonacci(n - 1) + slowFibonacci(n - 2);
const fastFibonacci = memoize(slowFibonacci);

// 3. Partial application
function partial(fn, ...presetArgs) {
  return function(...laterArgs) {
    return fn(...presetArgs, ...laterArgs);
  };
}

const multiply = (a, b) => a * b;
const double = partial(multiply, 2);
const triple = partial(multiply, 3);

console.log(double(5));  // 10
console.log(triple(5));  // 15

// 4. Once — run a function only one time
function once(fn) {
  let called = false;
  let result;

  return function(...args) {
    if (!called) {
      called = true;
      result = fn(...args);
    }
    return result;
  };
}

const initialize = once(() => {
  console.log('Initialized!');
  return { status: 'ready' };
});

initialize();  // Initialized!
initialize();  // (nothing logged)
initialize();  // (nothing logged)

Memory Management with Closures

Closures keep references to their enclosing scope alive. This is necessary for them to work, but can cause memory leaks if not managed carefully.

// MEMORY CONSIDERATIONS

// Closures keep references alive — potential memory leaks

// BAD: Large object kept alive by closure
function processData(hugeArray) {
  // processedResult only needs a small piece of hugeArray
  const processedResult = hugeArray[0].value;

  // But this closure keeps hugeArray alive in memory
  return function getResult() {
    return processedResult;  // only uses processedResult
    // However, the closure scope contains hugeArray!
  };
}

// BETTER: Narrow the scope so hugeArray can be GC'd
function processDataFixed(hugeArray) {
  const processedResult = hugeArray[0].value;
  hugeArray = null;  // allow GC (if no other references)

  return function getResult() {
    return processedResult;
  };
}

// REAL-WORLD: Event listener leaks
class Component {
  constructor() {
    this.data = new Array(1000000).fill('x');  // large data
    this.handler = (event) => {
      console.log(this.data.length);  // closure over 'this'
    };
    document.addEventListener('click', this.handler);
  }

  // MUST clean up to prevent memory leak
  destroy() {
    document.removeEventListener('click', this.handler);
  }
}

Closures in React: The Stale Closure Problem

React hooks rely heavily on closures, which can lead to the "stale closure" problem where event handlers or effects capture outdated state.

// Closures in React — the stale closure problem

import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, useRef } from 'react';

// PROBLEM: stale closure
function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

  useEffect(() => {
    const interval = setInterval(() => {
      // count is captured at the time the effect runs (= 0)
      console.log(count);  // always logs 0! (stale closure)
    }, 1000);

    return () => clearInterval(interval);
  }, []);  // empty deps = runs once = captures count=0

  return <button onClick={() => setCount(c => c + 1)}>{count}</button>;
}

// FIX 1: Add count to dependency array
useEffect(() => {
  const interval = setInterval(() => {
    console.log(count);  // fresh value (but re-creates interval)
  }, 1000);
  return () => clearInterval(interval);
}, [count]);

// FIX 2: Use a ref (mutable, doesn't trigger re-render)
function CounterWithRef() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  const countRef = useRef(count);
  countRef.current = count;  // always up to date

  useEffect(() => {
    const interval = setInterval(() => {
      console.log(countRef.current);  // always fresh!
    }, 1000);
    return () => clearInterval(interval);
  }, []);  // no deps needed

  return <button onClick={() => setCount(c => c + 1)}>{count}</button>;
}

Closure vs Class: When to Use Which

Frequently Asked Questions