Sass meta.get-function()

Intermediate
9 min read
Updated: Nov 2026
5 examples
Dart Sass
Sass meta.get-function resolving a function name to a function value
Definition

Definition and Usage

meta.get-function($name, $css: false, $module: null) returns a function value for the named function. Invoke it with meta.call(). Load it with @use "sass:meta".

Official sample idea.

Pass meta.get-function("contains-helvetica") into a higher-order helper that uses meta.call($condition, $element)—for example filtering font names.

$module for namespaces.

After @use "sass:math", resolve module members with $module: "math". The parameter can also be a module value.

Missing names.

By default, an unknown Sass function throws. With $css: true, Sass returns a plain CSS function instead. Do not combine $css: true with $module.

Syntax

Syntax

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

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

meta.call(meta.get-function("abs", $module: "math"), -12px); // 12px
meta.call(meta.get-function("blur", $css: true), 4px);       // blur(4px)

// Global alias (legacy): get-function(...)
// Prefer meta.get-function after @use "sass:meta"

Pattern: resolve a function value → meta.call with args → use the result. Check first with meta.function-exists when the API is optional.

Reference

$module and $css

How the options change lookup:

OptionsBehavior
DefaultUn-namespaced Sass function (including global built-ins)
$module: "math"Function named in that @use namespace
$css: truePlain CSS function value if no Sass function matches
$css: true + $moduleError — cannot combine
Missing Sass name, $css: falseThrows
vs get-mixin.

Functions use get-function + call. Mixins use meta.get-mixin + meta.apply.

Code

SCSS Examples

Examples use @use "sass:meta". Open View Compiled CSS for verified output (matches official Sass docs samples where shown).

Example 1 — Resolve a Module Function and Call It

Get math.abs, then invoke with meta.call.

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

.basic {
  width: meta.call(meta.get-function("abs", $module: "math"), -12px);
}

How It Works

  1. $module: "math" targets the namespace.
  2. get-function returns a function value.
  3. call runs it with -12px.
  4. Result is 12px.

Example 2 — Official Docs remove-where

Pass a local function value into a higher-order filter.

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

/// Return a copy of $list with all elements for which $condition returns `true`
/// removed.
@function remove-where($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"));
}

How It Works

  1. Local function is defined inside .content.
  2. get-function captures it as a value.
  3. remove-where calls that value per font.
  4. Matches the official Sass docs CSS output.

Example 3 — Plain CSS Function with $css: true

Emit a CSS function reference when there is no Sass function of that name.

SCSS
@use "sass:meta";

.css-fn {
  filter: meta.call(meta.get-function("blur", $css: true), 4px);
}

How It Works

  1. blur is not a Sass built-in here.
  2. $css: true builds a CSS function value.
  3. call emits blur(4px).
  4. Do not also pass $module.

Example 4 — Guard with function-exists

Check first when the API might be missing.

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

.guard {
  @if meta.function-exists("abs", $module: "math") {
    --abs: #{meta.call(meta.get-function("abs", $module: "math"), -8px)};
  }
}

How It Works

  1. exists answers yes/no safely.
  2. get-function only runs on the true path.
  3. call produces 8px.
  4. Avoids a hard error for optional APIs.

Example 5 — Functions vs Mixins

Use get-function for return values; get-mixin for CSS-emitting mixins.

SCSS
@use "sass:meta";

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

@mixin card($pad) {
  .card {
    padding: $pad;
  }
}

.demo {
  margin: meta.call(meta.get-function("gap"), 4px);
  @include meta.apply(meta.get-mixin("card"), 1rem);
}

How It Works

  1. get-function + call returns 8px.
  2. get-mixin + apply emits the card rule.
  3. Different member types need different APIs.
  4. Do not mix them up.

Edge Cases & Pitfalls

Most get-function bugs are forgetting $module, combining $css wrongly, or never calling the value.

module

Namespaced APIs need $module

get-function("abs") is not math.abs. Pass $module: "math".

css

Cannot mix $css and $module

Official docs: setting both is an error. Choose one mode.

invoke

Resolve ≠ call

You still need meta.call to run the returned value.

scope

Local functions need local scope

In the official sample, contains-helvetica is defined where get-function can see it.

Toolchain

Sass Support

Prefer the module form with current Dart Sass.

APIStatus
meta.get-function()Dart Sass via @use "sass:meta"
Global get-function()Legacy; prefer module form
Return typeFunction value (Sass or CSS when $css: true)
Invoke withmeta.call($function, $args...)

Compile with the Dart Sass CLI.

Remember

Key Takeaways

  • Returns a function value for a name (and optional module).
  • Invoke with meta.call; use $css: true for plain CSS functions.
  • Pair with function-exists for optional APIs.
  • Mixin counterpart: meta.get-mixin + meta.apply.

One line: when you need a function value to pass around or call dynamically, use meta.get-function($name, $css: false, $module: null).

Practice

Compile Notes

Practical checklist:

checklist.txt
1. @use "sass:meta"
2. meta.get-function("name") or with $module
3. meta.call($fn, $args...)
4. Use $css: true only for plain CSS functions
5. Prefer function-exists before optional lookups

Frequently Asked Questions

meta.get-function($name, $css: false, $module: null) returns a function value for the named function. You typically run that value with meta.call($fn, $args...).
When the function lives under a @use namespace. For example meta.get-function("abs", $module: "math") after @use "sass:math". The string must match that file’s namespace.
By default, a missing Sass function name throws. With $css: true, get-function returns a plain CSS function value instead—useful when you want to emit CSS like blur() as a function reference. It’s an error to combine $css: true with $module.
function-exists returns true/false. get-function returns the actual function value (or errors unless $css is true). Check with exists first for optional APIs.
Use meta.call($function, $args...). Passing a string name directly to call() is deprecated—get-function is the modern first step.
Yes. get-function($name, $css: false, $module: null) is the legacy global name. Prefer meta.get-function after @use "sass:meta".

Next: Sass meta.get-mixin()

Resolve a mixin name to a value you can include with meta.apply.

meta.get-mixin() →

About the author

Mari Selvan M P
Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

  • Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
  • Focus Full Stack Development, AWS, and Developer Education

I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate (Credly)

8 people found this page helpful

Sass meta.function-exists Function Sass meta.get-mixin Function