How to make an array inside a function be usable throughout the whole page

Question

I have an array that is made inside of a function like this:

function easy() {
    var colors = ["white", "red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "blue", "purple", "gray", "white", "red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "blue", "purple", "gray"];
}

I call this function through an onclick on a radio button, but when I do this later:

colors.sort(function() {return 0.5 - Math.random()});

it doesn't work, I think it might be because colors is just a local array. Is there any way to make it work throuhttp://stackoverflow.com/posts/21558099/editghout the whole page?

to say what "colors" is, if the user clicks on a different radio button, "colors" would be different. — CPC, Feb 04 '14 at 16:37
Are you trying to [**shuffle your array**](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6274339/how-can-i-shuffle-an-array-in-javascript) of colors each time? — crush, Feb 04 '14 at 16:41
It's unclear what your interface is here (how you want to use this). — crush, Feb 04 '14 at 16:42
No, I want it to be called only once, after the easy function — CPC, Feb 04 '14 at 16:43

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 04 '14 at 16:38

2

If you declare your array outside of the function its scope is global :

var colors;
function easy() {
    colors = ["white", "red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "blue", "purple", "gray", "white", "red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "blue", "purple", "gray"];
}
easy(); // Here colors is defined;

answered Feb 04 '14 at 16:38

luxcem

1,807
22
37

I need to call easy through an onclick event though. – CPC Feb 04 '14 at 16:39
Does it make a difference that I'm calling the function through an onclick event? – CPC Feb 04 '14 at 16:42
No if the var is declared in the global scope. – luxcem Feb 04 '14 at 16:43

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 04 '14 at 16:38

0

var colors;
function easy() {
   colors = ["white", "red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "blue", "purple", "gray", "white", "red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "blue", "purple", "gray"];
};
easy();
colors.sort(function() {return 0.5 - Math.random()});

answered Feb 04 '14 at 16:38

Danilo Valente

11,270
8
53
67

Sorry, it was a typo. Just fixed it – Danilo Valente Feb 04 '14 at 16:39

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 04 '14 at 16:44

Are you looking to encapsulate it?

var easy = {
   colors: ["white", "red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "blue", "purple", "gray", "white", "red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "blue", "purple", "gray"],
   hello: function() { alert("Hello") }
}

alert( easy.colors.sort(function() {return 0.5 - Math.random()}) );
easy.hello();

score -1 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 04 '14 at 16:41

-1

Probably you will need to use that variable in several programs. Put it in an external file, php an add it via include. Consider it like global variables.

answered Feb 04 '14 at 16:41

gtryonp

397
5
13

This is extremely needlessly complicated for something that's simply accomplished by moving the variable to global scope. – Brian S Feb 04 '14 at 17:00
In my scneario: "Probably you will need to use that variable in several programs". I have 20+ sites running in different host servers. For me, add/replace a new global variable means change only one program and replace only one program to all. For me, is extremely useful. – gtryonp Feb 05 '14 at 14:25

How to make an array inside a function be usable throughout the whole page

4 Answers4