javascript function 内 function

Question

So I was wondering if it is possible to access a variable (which has a value of function) from outside the scope. I have code that goes something like this:

function parentFunction(){
  var childFunction = function() {
    // do something
  }
}

$(function(){
  // need to access childFunction() here.
});

Answer 1

var childFunction;

function parentFunction(){
  childFunction = function() {
    // do something
  }
}

$(function(){
  childFunction();
});

Answer 2

No, you do not. The only way to achieve this is to make the desired childFunction an attribute of parentFunction:

var parentFunction = (function(){
  var actualParentFunction = function(){
      this.childFunction = function() {
        // do something
      };
  }

  return new actualParentFunction();
})();

At which point you can do:

parentFunction.childFunction();