CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javascript
Sean Bannister
Sean Bannister

Reputation: 3185

Javascript: How to create a function in an object when the name is stored in a variable

I have the need to create a function from a name stored in a variable. Usually this is pretty simple, I've done it before using:

  var funcName = "theName";
  window[funcName] = function(){
    // code here
  };

However in my new usecase the function I create needs to sit inside an object called the.Name. So what I tried to do, and it doesn't work is:

  var funcName = "the.Name";
  window[funcName] = function(){
    // code here
  };

The reason it doesn't work is because I can't reference window["the.Name"] as that's invalid, the correct way is window["the"]["Name"].

Does anyone have a a solution for this problem? Basically naming a function which will sit inside an object when the name is stored in a variable.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 86

Answers (4)

Christian
Christian

Reputation: 28124

OK, I seem to understand your problem.

Here's some code to get you started.

/**
 * @param fn The function to bind.
 * @param path The object to bind to.
 * @param root The root object.
 */
function bindFunc(fn, path, root){
    path = path.split('.');
    var base = root;
    for(var i=0; i<path.length-1; i++){
        base = base[path[i]];
    }
    base[path[path.length - 1]] = fn;
}

bindFunc(function(){  }, 'the.Name', window);

Upvotes: 2

ZER0
ZER0

Reputation: 25322

If you're sure that all object till the last one exists (the last one could also not be defined), the shortest way probably is using reduce

var func = funcName.split(".").reduce(function(p, c) {
    return p[c];
}, window);

Upvotes: 1

Jason L.
Jason L.

Reputation: 2484

I'm going to make a guess that you're trying to do something "namespace-like". Here's an article that should get you started (has some good example code, too)..

http://blogger.ziesemer.com/2008/05/javascript-namespace-function.html

Upvotes: 1

Guffa
Guffa

Reputation: 700312

Split the string so that you can reference one level at a time:

var names = funcname.split(".");
var f = window;
for (var i = 0; i < names.length - 1; i++) {
  f = f[names[i]];
}
f[names[names.length - 1]] = function(){...};

Upvotes: 0

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