Google Maps API 3

CHAPTER 3 ■ CREATING YOUR FIRST MAP
Figure 3-6. Your first map
Encapsulating the Code
Although you now have a functioning map, you’re not quite done. You are currently cluttering the global
namespace with all your variables. This might not be a big deal in a simple web page like the one you’re
currently working on. But if you’re constructing a map that will be part of a bigger project, using global
variables can turn out to be a big problem. The problem that can arise is that naming collisions between
conflicting code occur. It’s therefore important to contain your code so that you isolate it from the
outside world.
To make sure that your code doesn’t clutter the global namespace, you will encapsulate it inside a
self-executing anonymous function. The pattern looks like this:
(function() {
// The code
})();
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