Return variable from Javascript function

Question

I can`t return result of this function.

function get_duration() {
    var a = '';
    $.ajax({
        url: "http://gdata.youtube.com/feeds/api/videos?q=3KMz3JqRByY&max-results=50& format=5,1,6",
        dataType: "jsonp",
        success: function (data) {
            re2 = /seconds='(\d+)'/ig;
            while (re.exec(data) != null) {
                a = re2.exec(data);
            }
        }
    });
    return a;
}

It has to do with the fact your AJAX call is asynchronous, your question has also been asked (and answered) a million times, for example here. — Daniël Knippers
– Daniël Knippers, Commented Mar 29, 2014 at 11:24

Amit Joki · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-29 11:30:13Z

1

You have to use return inside the success callback since, A in Ajax is asynchronous.

Like this:

function get_duration() {
    var a = '';
    $.ajax({
        url: "http://gdata.youtube.com/feeds/api/videos?q=3KMz3JqRByY&max-results=50& format=5,1,6",
        dataType: "jsonp",
        success: function (data) {
            re2 = /seconds='(\d+)'/ig;
            while (re.exec(data) != null) {
                a = re2.exec(data);
            }
            return a;
        }
    });
}

But, this function isn't guaranteed to return. You'll have to use a callback function kind of thing.

edited Mar 29, 2014 at 11:30

answered Mar 29, 2014 at 11:23

Amit Joki

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1 Comment

Daniël Knippers Over a year ago

Note get_duration() still returns undefined this way.

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