Redefinition of length?

Question

When I try to create a variable named length

var length = 10;

JSLint complaints

Redefinition of 'length'. var length = 10;

But where does that length come from?

Could you post the js you're using? I'm assuming you're either overriding a global, or you have another length variable declared somewhere within your function (or it's parent function). — JesseBuesking, Dec 02 '11 at 22:10

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 02 '11 at 22:09

5

window already has length defined:

answered Dec 02 '11 at 22:09

Justin Niessner

1

To further explain, if you are at the global scope (way up top, not in a function) and you create a variable with the same name as a property on window, then your variable *is* that property on window. A bizarre gotcha in JavaScript. – Matt Greer Dec 02 '11 at 22:14
+1 Very obscure that length returns the number of frames within the window. JS can give some real headaches :-). – helpermethod Dec 02 '11 at 22:22
1

JS is like an American muscle car. A ripe pain in the ass, but oh so worth it :) – Matt Greer Dec 02 '11 at 22:28

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 02 '11 at 22:12

0

If you had, say, an array:

howlong=myarray.length;

would return the number of elements in the array.

If you had a string:

howlong=mystring.length;

would return the number of characters in the string.

Long story short, 'length' is used all over the place. Most useful.

answered Dec 02 '11 at 22:12

Terry

2 Answers2