Loading external JSON file as a javascript variable

Question

I thought this question would be trivial but I just can't seem to find an answer. A website (different origin, no control over it) is making available some JSON files. I want some variables of my script to grab the content of those files. I don't care whether it is done synchrnously or not. How would you go ?

You could use jsonp? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSONP or jQuery way api.jquery.com/jQuery.ajax — benqus
– benqus, Commented May 18, 2012 at 17:48
As far as I know there is none for the browser. From JavaScript of corse. — benqus
– benqus, Commented May 18, 2012 at 17:49
JSONP is some kind of a hack, and my request seems so ... simple and pertinent. Can't believe we don't have that yet :( — Cystack
– Cystack, Commented May 18, 2012 at 17:51
Yea, I know, and since JS debuggers run in the browser it easy to hack it also, so ir doesn't make any sense at all sometimes. =) But you have no other choice except using flash... =DDD Below guy answered your question. =) — benqus
– benqus, Commented May 18, 2012 at 17:53
@Cystack the reason you cannot just make an ajax call to a different domain is for security measures. — Ibu
– Ibu, Commented May 18, 2012 at 17:55

Ibu · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-18 18:15:49Z

1

using JSONP consist of using your url, with parameters, and add a script file to your page

www.example.com/process?value=1&callback=Func

add the script to your page.

var url = "www.example.com/process?value=1&callback=Func";
var script = document.createElement('script');
script.type= ' text/javascript';
script.src = url;
document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0].appendChild(script);

now you can use the call back function or access the variables that were added from this script.

UPDATE

At the end of your jsonp script you can call your call back function Ex: php

<?php
if (isset($_GET['callback'])) {
    echo $_GET['callback']."();";
    // Func(); // will call your function and use your variables.
}

edited May 18, 2012 at 18:15

answered May 18, 2012 at 17:53

Ibu

44k14 gold badges82 silver badges109 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

Cystack Over a year ago

Thanks... JSONP is the way then... And now if I host it on my server, what would the snippet be ?

Cystack Over a year ago

This implies that I have control over the "example.com" server... and I don't !

Ibu Over a year ago

@Cystack you said "now if I host it on my server" so i thought you had control over it. in that case you will have to read the documentation of the api you are using.

benqus Over a year ago

You don't need JSONP if you host it on your own server. A simple async call does the job. The only thing you need is to watch for the links you make your call to. You think you are refering to your server but you can refer to it as it would seem a different domain to browsers, so watch out with that! =)

Phrogz · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-18 18:20:28Z

1

If the remote host does not supply JSONP or CORS, then you will need to place a server-side component on your own domain which fetches the JSON for you and serves it locally.

answered May 18, 2012 at 18:20

Phrogz

304k115 gold badges669 silver badges758 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Loading external JSON file as a javascript variable

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related