create variable name function

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Javascript dynamic variable name

I'm trying to create a function in javascript that has a name dependent on a variable.

For instance:

var myFuncName = 'somethingWicked';
function myFuncName(){console.log('wicked');};
somethingWicked(); // consoles 'wicked'

I can't seem to figure out a way to do it.... I tried to eval it, but then when I try and use the function at a later time it 'doesnt exist'.. or more exactly I get a ReferenceError that the function is undefined...

Any help would be appreciated.

The next question, of course, is "how do I call a function whose name is in a variable?" — Greg Hewgill, Nov 20 '12 at 17:35
I don't, I'm just curious. If you're hard coding in the call, you might as well hardcode in the function definition. — Mike Christensen, Nov 20 '12 at 17:41

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 20 '12 at 17:34

5

You could assign your functions to an object and reference them like this:

var funcs = {};
var myFuncName = 'somethingWicked';
funcs[myFuncName] = function(){console.log('wicked');};
funcs.somethingWicked(); // consoles 'wicked'

Alternatively, you could keep them as globals, but you would still have to assign them through the window object:

var myFuncName = 'somethingWicked';
window[myFuncName] = function(){console.log('wicked');};
somethingWicked(); // consoles 'wicked'

answered Nov 20 '12 at 17:34

lbstr

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I don't think that this resolves, since `funcs.somethingWicked.name == ""` – Alynva Jul 19 '21 at 17:57
The solution should be this: ```var myFuncName = 'somethingWicked'; var funcs = { [myFuncName]: function(){console.log('wicked');} }; funcs.somethingWicked(); // consoles 'wicked' console.log(funcs.somethingWicked.name); // consoles 'somethingWicked'``` – Alynva Jul 19 '21 at 17:58

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 20 '12 at 17:34

0

var myFuncName = 'somethingWicked';
window[myFuncName] = function(){console.log('wicked');};
somethingWicked(); // consoles 'wicked'

answered Nov 20 '12 at 17:34

epascarello

204,599
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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 20 '12 at 17:35

Any time you have to create something that depends on a dynamic name for a variable you should be using a property of an object or an array member instead.

var myRelatedFunctions = {};
var myFuncName = 'somethingWicked';
myRelatedFunctions[myFuncName] = function (){console.log('wicked');};
myRelatedFunctions['somethingWicked']()

create variable name function

3 Answers3