JavaScript Object Literal Notation Internal Variable Pointing

Question

I have an array of variables. And I want one variable to equal the previous one. For example:

var myVars = {
    var1: "test",
    var2: var1
};

alert(myVars.var2);

//output: var1 is not defined

Any thoughts? I'm sure this is some sort of variable scope limitation. I would like to hear otherwise. Thanks in advance.

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 11 '09 at 17:22

7

You cannot refer to the same object literal in an expression without using a function, I would recommend you to use the equivalent syntax:

var myVars = {};

myVars.var1 = "test",
myVars.var2 = myVars.var1;

answered Dec 11 '09 at 17:22

Perfect thanks. I actually resorted to this method. I was just hoping my above mentioned method would work. Guess not! – Justin Bull Dec 11 '09 at 18:50

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 11 '09 at 17:23

1

Or:

var myVar = "test";

var myArr = {
    var1: myVar,
    var2: myVar
}

answered Dec 11 '09 at 17:23

Jay Zeng

I am trying to keep all variables inside a single object for name-space reasons. This does not work in my situation. – Justin Bull Dec 11 '09 at 19:38
Right in that case you need to wrap all necessary variables in an object, like what CMS suggested. Just a note that you can also declare the array as object: var myVars = new Object(); myVars.var1 = "test"; myVars.var2 = myVars.var1; – Jay Zeng Dec 11 '09 at 19:53
1

What array? There are no arrays being used here. – Justin Johnson Dec 12 '09 at 07:56

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 11 '09 at 17:22

-1

var myVars = {
    var1: "test",
    var2: this.var1
};

perhaps?

answered Dec 11 '09 at 17:22

matpol

3

`this` is bound to the function-context, has nothing to do with the `myVars` instance – Christian C. Salvadó Dec 11 '09 at 17:24

3 Answers3