In javascript or jquery, what's the best way of running a function whose function name and parameters come in a json object?

Question

I'm receiving the following object for example:

var object = {
    functions: {
        0: 'myFunction',
        1: 'alert'
    },
    parameters: {
        0: {
            0: 'Testing myFunction...'
        },
        1: {
            0: 'Testing alert...'
        }
    }
}

After receiving object variable I want to run all the functions specified with the corresponding parameters.

That is, after receiving the object I want the following to happen:

myFunction('Testing myFunction');
alert('Testing alert');

Is there an elegant way of handling this or is stringconversion into eval the way to go? Some other methods I don't know about?

like this? `object.functions['0'](object.parameters['0']['0']);`, you can easily convert it into a generic function, if you can see the pattern with the numbering :) — epoch, Apr 07 '14 at 14:18
Possible duplicate of http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7424476/call-jquery-defined-function-via-string — Smeegs, Apr 07 '14 at 14:25

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 07 '14 at 14:20

3

Simply loop over object.functions, and use .apply call it with its parameters from object.parameters.

for(var i in object.functions){
    if(object.functions.hasOwnProperty(i)){
        // Convert object.parameters[i] to an array
        var params = [];
        for(var j in object.parameters[i]){
            if(object.parameters[i].hasOwnProperty(j)){
                params.push(object.parameters[i][j]);
            }
        }
        // Call the function with an array of params
        window[object.functions[i]].apply(null, params);
    }
}

answered Apr 07 '14 at 14:20

gen_Eric

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+1, nice solution, I was about to comment on using `slice` with objects, haha – epoch Apr 07 '14 at 14:25
1

I tried doing `Array.prototype.slice.call(object.parameters[i])`, but it didn't work. I think it needs a `.length` property to be able to do that. – gen_Eric Apr 07 '14 at 14:26
1

I would strongly suggest that there is another _Object_ which holds references to the functions so that you're not looking in `window`, but other than that this is the way to go – Paul S. Apr 07 '14 at 14:28
@RocketHazmat Thanks for the answer. I haven't tested it yet but reading through your code I'm wondering, shouldn't I reset the params array in the end of the loop, after the window|object....]-line? – Weblurk Apr 07 '14 at 14:36
1

@Weblurk: What do you mean by "reset the params array"? It's set to `[]` each time the outer loop (`object.functions`) runs. – gen_Eric Apr 07 '14 at 14:37
You're right, my mistake. Thought it was set outside the loop for some reason. – Weblurk Apr 07 '14 at 14:43
1

It's alright :-) Glad I could be of assistance :-D – gen_Eric Apr 07 '14 at 14:47

In javascript or jquery, what's the best way of running a function whose function name and parameters come in a json object?

1 Answers1