Save jQuery callback functions in a separate file

Probably I missed something, but lets say I have this:

$('a.delete').click(function(){
   resp=window.confirm("Are you sure you wa开发者_开发知识库nt to delete this?");
   if(resp)
       return true;
   else
       return false;
}

Now, I want to save that callback function into a separate js file, because I will use it in several pages. My logic told me to do this:

$('a.del').click(delete_element());

Having my js file like this:

function delete_element(){
   resp=window.confirm("Are you sure you want to delete this?");
   if(resp)
       return true;
   else
       return false;
}

This doesn't work. Everytime my page loads, it displays the confirm window, even if I haven't clicked the link.

It is clear that my logic failed this time. What am I missing?

$('a.del').click(delete_element());

That is calling the function delete_element() and hoping for a function to be returned.

$('a.del').click(delete_element);

That (note the missing ()) will set the click handler to delete_element.

try;

$('a.delete').click(function(){
  delete_element()
}

edit

I'd be passing the reference to the element to remove to the delete_element function and removing it from there as the name of the function says delete_element not ask_to_delete_element.

How about

function deleteElement() {
   return window.confirm("Are you sure you want to delete this?");
}

$('a.delete').click(deleteElement);

Or if this is standard behavior for your pages:

$('a.delete').live('click', function() {
   return window.confirm("Are you sure you want to delete this?");
});