Using parameters in dictionary with JavaScript

Question

Possible Duplicate:
JavaScript equivalent to printf/string.format

I'm using dictionary to hold all text used in the website like

var dict = {
  "text1": "this is my text"
};

Calling texts with javascript(jQuery),

$("#firstp").html(dict.text1);

And come up with a problem that some of my text is not static. I need to write some parameter into my text.

You have 100 messages

$("#firstp").html(dict.sometext+ messagecount + dict.sometext);

and this is noobish

I want something like

var dict = {
  "text1": "you have %s messages"
};

How can I write "messagecount" in to where %s is.

Write your own printf in JS *and share it with the community* :-) — techfoobar, Jan 29 '13 at 10:49
Why not simply use [replace](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String/replace) ? — Denys Séguret, Jan 29 '13 at 10:49
I think replace is the best choice here. In any case your own printf in principle would make use of it, so I suggest you go ahead with that ;-). — Masiar, Jan 29 '13 at 10:51
So I conclude that your actual question has nothing to do with "dictionaries"? — Bergi, Jan 29 '13 at 10:53
duplicates: http://stackoverflow.com/search?q=javascript+printf — Bergi, Jan 29 '13 at 10:54

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 29 '13 at 10:56

Without any libraries, you may create your own easy string format function:

function format(str) {
    var args = [].slice.call(arguments, 1);
    return str.replace(/{(\d+)}/g, function(m, i) {
        return args[i] !== undefined ? args[i] : m;
    });
}

format("you have {0} messages", 10);
// >> "you have 10 messages"

Or via String object:

String.prototype.format = function() {
    var args = [].slice.call(arguments);
    return this.replace(/{(\d+)}/g, function(m, i) {
        return args[i] !== undefined ? args[i] : m;
    });
};

"you have {0} messages in {1} posts".format(10, 5);
// >> "you have 10 messages in 5 posts"

Using parameters in dictionary with JavaScript

1 Answers1