javascript - What's the difference between event handlers & listener?

Question

What is the difference between event handlers and event listeners in JavaScript? They both execute a function when the event appears. I don't really get when to use event handlers and when to use event listeners.

Answer 1

A handler and a listener are one in the same - just synonyms for the function that will handle an event. "Handler" is probably the more accepted term, and is certainly more semantically correct to me. The term "listener" is derived from the code used to add an event to an element:

element.addEventListener('click', function() { /* do stuff here*/ }, false);

You could, however, get really nitpicky and break the two down into separate meanings. If you're so inclined, "handler" could be the term for the function that is going to handle an event when you add a "listener", thus one can have several "listeners" that utilize a single "handler". Consider:

// handler is synonymous with function 
function someFunction(e) {
  if (typeof e == 'undefined')
   alert('called as a function');
  else
   alert('called as a handler');
}


// use someFunction as a handler for a 
// click event on element1 -- add a "listener"
element.addEventListener('click', someFunction, false);
// use an anonymous function as a handler for a 
// click event on element1 -- add another "listener"
element.addEventListener('click', function () { alert('anonymoose'); }, false);


// use someFunction as a handler for a 
// click event on element2 -- add a "listener"
element2.addEventListener('click', someFunction, false);

// call someFunction right now
someFunction();

So in the above code, I have 2 "handlers" (someFunction and an anonymous function) and 3 "listeners".

Again, this is all semantics - for all practical purposes the terms listener and handler are used interchangeably. If a distinction need be made then a listener is a subscription to an event that will trigger a call to a handler (which is a function).

Clear as mud?