select array by the value of variable using jQuery

Question

I have some arrays defined in js, and I want to use the variable's value to select which array should I select.

// My arrays
var battery = [123, 321, "", ""];
var cables = [234, 432, "", ""];

$(document).ready(function() {

    var file = "battery.jpg";
    var item = file.slice(0, -4); // item = "battery"

    console.log($(item)[0]); // undefined and I was hoping to log "123" - battery[0]
});

possible duplicate of "Variable" Variables in Javascript?

Gergo Erdosi
– Gergo Erdosi

2014-06-02 01:34:03 +00:00
Commented Jun 2, 2014 at 1:34 — Gergo Erdosi
– Gergo Erdosi, Commented Jun 2, 2014 at 1:34

miguel-svq · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-02 02:01:51Z

1

You could use a bidimensional array.

//var mydata=Array()
mydata["battery"] = [123, 321, "", ""];
mydata["cables"] = [234, 432, "", ""];

$(document).ready(function() {

  var file = "battery.jpg";
  var item = file.slice(0, -4); // item = "battery"

  console.log(mydata[item][0]); // undefined and I was hoping to log "123" - battery[0]
});

EDIT: As pointed in the comment by Dalorzo it's not an array. I'll keep the mistake (commented) for comments coherency.

edited Jun 2, 2014 at 2:01

answered Jun 2, 2014 at 1:31

miguel-svq

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3 Comments

Dalorzo Over a year ago

mydata is not an array is an object. mydata=Array() seems unnecessary

charlietfl Over a year ago

javascript does not have associatve arrays as @Dalorzo pointed out. Answer is acheiving desired results but is not accurate regarding array vs object see: jsfiddle.net/aFMhx

miguel-svq Over a year ago

Rigth @Dalorzo, in javascript there are arrays and objects, associative arrays do not exists... But could be someway confusing for a newbie use the right name. Anyway: You are right.

Janaka R Rajapaksha · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-02 01:51:08Z

0

window["some_string"] will make a global variable named some_string. like var some_string.

so replace

console.log($(item)[0]);

with

console.log(window[file.slice(0, -4)][0]);

it will make that string file.slice(0, -4), a global variable.

----OR----

var item = file.slice(0, -4);
item = window[item]; // make that string a global variable

then

console.log(item[0]);

edited Jun 2, 2014 at 1:51

answered Jun 2, 2014 at 1:34

Janaka R Rajapaksha

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