Sass meta.get-function() Function

What You’ll Learn

meta.get-function() belongs to the built-in sass:meta module. It turns a function name into a function value you can store, pass around, and run with meta.call. This page covers $module, $css, vs function-exists, and five compiled examples.

What Is meta.get-function()?

Normally you write double(21) with a fixed name. Higher-order helpers need a reference to a function instead. Official docs: meta.get-function returns the function value named $name, and you invoke it with meta.call().

• Without $module, looks up a function without a namespace (including many globals).
• With $module, looks inside a @use namespace from the current file.
• Default: missing Sass names throw. With $css: true, you get a plain CSS function instead.

📝 Syntax

@use "sass:meta";

// Recommended
meta.get-function($name, $css: false, $module: null)

// Legacy global name
get-function($name, $css: false, $module: null)

Parameters

Return value

📦 Loading sass:meta

// Recommended — namespaced
@use "sass:meta";
@use "sass:math";
$fn: meta.get-function("abs", $module: "math");
$value: meta.call($fn, -8); // 8

// Optional — bring members into scope
@use "sass:meta" as *;
$fn: get-function("abs", $module: "math");

// Legacy global
$fn: get-function("abs", $module: "math");

🔗 Pair with meta.call

Official rule: the returned function is called using meta.call(). Prefer this over the deprecated string form of call("name", …).

@use "sass:meta";

@function triple($n) {
  @return $n * 3;
}

$fn: meta.get-function("triple");
$result: meta.call($fn, 14); // 42

⚙ The $css Flag

By default, an unknown Sass function name throws. Set $css: true when you want a plain CSS function value instead (for example to keep min / clamp as CSS at the call site).

📋 Related Meta Helpers

🛠 Compatibility

This is about Sass compilers, not browsers. Resolution runs at compile time.

Prefer current Dart Sass for @use and $module.

Examples Gallery

Each example resolves a function value, then uses it (usually via meta.call). Open View Compiled CSS for verified Dart Sass output.

@use "sass:meta";

@function double($n) {
  @return $n * 2;
}

$fn: meta.get-function("double");

.box {
  width: meta.call($fn, 55px);
}

.box {
  width: 110px;
}

@use "sass:list";
@use "sass:meta";
@use "sass:string";

@function remove-where($list, $condition) {
  $new-list: ();
  $separator: list.separator($list);
  @each $element in $list {
    @if not meta.call($condition, $element) {
      $new-list: list.append($new-list, $element, $separator: $separator);
    }
  }
  @return $new-list;
}

$fonts: Tahoma, Geneva, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;

.content {
  @function contains-helvetica($string) {
    @return string.index($string, "Helvetica");
  }
  font-family: remove-where($fonts, meta.get-function("contains-helvetica"));
}

.content {
  font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, Arial, sans-serif;
}

@use "sass:math";
@use "sass:meta";

$pow: meta.get-function("pow", $module: "math");

.scale {
  --eight: #{meta.call($pow, 2, 3)};
  width: meta.call($pow, 2, 4) * 1px;
}

.scale {
  --eight: 8;
  width: 16px;
}

@use "sass:meta";

@function grow($n) {
  @return $n * 1.5;
}

@function shrink($n) {
  @return $n * 0.75;
}

$mode: "grow";
$fn: if(
  $mode == "grow",
  meta.get-function("grow"),
  meta.get-function("shrink")
);

.panel {
  padding: meta.call($fn, 16px);
}

.panel {
  padding: 24px;
}

@use "sass:meta";

$min: meta.get-function("min", $css: true);

.box {
  width: meta.call($min, 50vw, 640px);
}

.box {
  width: min(50vw, 640px);
}

🚀 Real-World Use Cases

• Higher-order helpers — filters, mappers, and reducers that accept a function value.
• Configurable adjusters — choose grow/shrink (or theme helpers) from a flag.
• Module bridging — resolve sass:math / other built-ins via $module.
• Safe dynamic APIs — pair with meta.function-exists before resolving.
• CSS function references — $css: true when you need plain CSS callables.

⚠️ Common Pitfalls

• Forgetting $module — math.pow will not resolve from a bare "pow".
• Missing name without $css — throws at compile time.
• Stopping at get-function — you still need meta.call to run it.
• String call("name") — deprecated; resolve with get-function first.
• Wrong namespace alias — $module must match this file’s @use … as name.

💡 Best Practices