jsPsych/docs/markdown_docs/features/callbacks.md
2017-12-20 11:48:18 -05:00

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# Event-related callback functions
jsPsych offers the ability to call arbitrary functions in response to certain events occurring, like the end of a trial or when new data is saved. This page summarizes the different opportunities for callback functions and how to specify them.
---
## on_data_update
The `on_data_update` callback can be declared in the `jsPsych.init` method. The callback triggers at the end of a data update cycle. This happens after every trial, after the on_finish (trial) and on_trial_finish events execute, allowing you to modify the data in those callbacks, and then use this callback to store the data. The function will be passed a single argument, which contains the data that was written.
#### Sample use
```javascript
jsPsych.init({
timeline: exp,
on_data_update: function(data) {
console.log('Just added new data. The contents of the data are: '+JSON.stringify(data));
}
});
```
---
## on_finish (trial)
The `on_finish` callback can be added to any trial. The callback will trigger whenever the trial ends. The callback function will be passed a single argument, containing the data object from the trial.
#### Sample use
```javascript
var trial = {
type: 'image-keyboard-response',
stimulus: 'imgA.png',
on_finish: function(data) {
console.log('The trial just ended.');
console.log(JSON.stringify(data));
}
};
```
---
## on_finish (experiment)
The `on_finish` callback can be declared in the `jsPsych.init` method. The callback will trigger once all trials in the experiment have been run. The method will be passed a single argument, containing all of the data generated in the experiment.
#### Sample use
```javascript
jsPsych.init({
timeline: exp,
on_finish: function(data) {
console.log('The experiment is over! Here is all the data: '+JSON.stringify(data));
}
});
```
---
## on_start (trial)
The `on_start` callback can be added to any trial. The callback will trigger right before the trial begins. The callback function will be passed a single argument, containing the trial object. If any of the parameters of the trial are functions or timeline variables, these will be evaluated before `on_start` is called, and the trial object will contain the evaluated value. The trial object is modifiable, and any changes made will affect the trial.
#### Sample use
```javascript
var trial = {
type: 'image-keyboard-response',
stimulus: 'imgA.png',
on_start: function(trial) {
console.log('The trial is about to start.');
trial.stimulus = 'imgB.png'; // this will change what stimulus is displayed in the trial
}
};
```
---
## on_trial_finish
The `on_trial_finish` callback can be declared in the `jsPsych.init` method. The callback will trigger at the end of every trial in the experiment. If you want a callback to trigger only for the end of certain trials, use the [`on_finish`](#onfinishtrial) callback on the trial object. The callback function will be passed a single argument, containing the data object from the trial.
#### Sample use
```javascript
jsPsych.init({
timeline: exp,
on_trial_finish: function(data) {
console.log('A trial just ended.');
console.log(JSON.stringify(data));
}
});
```
---
## on_trial_start
The `on_trial_start` callback can be declared in the `jsPsych.init` method. The callback will trigger at the start of every trial in the experiment. The function receives a single argument: a modifiable copy of the trial object that will be used to run the next trial. Changes can be made to this object to alter the parameters of the upcoming trial.
#### Sample use
```javascript
var current_score = 0; // a variable that is updated throughout the experiment to keep track of the current score.
jsPsych.init({
timeline: exp,
on_trial_start: function(trial) {
trial.data.score_at_start_of_trial = current_score;
console.log('A trial just started.');
}
});
```