We know that what global variables or constants are, these are fields which are accessible application wide. In java, it is done usually done using defining “public static” fields. Here by adding final keyword, we can change the global variable to global constant. So easy, right?
But what about javascript? These scripting languages don’t have these access modifiers etc., so what are our options?
I faced a similar situation in my regular work hours and came to know that defining global variable in traditional javascript way can break in production code. Traditional way is:
var iAmGlobal = "some val"; //Global variable declaration
//Any place in other part of code
function doSomething()
{
//iAmGlobal = "changed value";
alert(iAmGlobal); //I am accessible here too !!
}
These type are declaration are in practice from long time and for some less fortunate mates, it result in famous “Object doesn’t support this property or method” error in java script. If you remember there is an IE bug with “var a = foo” only declaring a global for file scope. This is an issue with IE’s notorious broken interpreter.
So, what’s correct way to declare global variable in javascript then?
Correct way to declare global variable in JavaScript
The proper way is to use window object. And use the syntax like this:
var window.iAmGlobal = "some val"; //Global variable declaration with window.
//Any place in other part of code
function doSomething()
{
alert(window.iAmGlobal); //I am accessible here too !!
//OR
alert(iAmGlobal); //I am accessible here too !!
}
By defining globals this way, you will make JavaScript more robust and reliable.
Important points:
- Define global variables with window keyword in form of “window.VAR_NAME”
- You can access the variable with “window.VAR_NAME” or directly “VAR_NAME”
- Do not use other variables with same name otherwise it may cause unwanted results
That’s all folks on this topic.
Further reading: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4862193/javascript-global-variables
Happy learning !!
Ilker Balpinar
You shouldn’t use the ‘var’ keyword for this example because of the ‘window’ is already defined as the ‘Window’ object.
Balbhadra Singh Thakur
var window.iAmGlobal = “some val”;
So what is need of var here i think correct way is
window.iAmGlobal = “some val”;
ravikant verma
hi Guys ,
I have doubt regarding global variables. Is it available on next web page.
Thanks
Lokesh Gupta
No. Once new page is loaded in browser, it (it’s state) is gone.
komal
I need help to generate auto generated code for buyer like when i select India from struts2 template its code come IND01, IND02… If in case i select China code comes like CHN01, CHN02 n so on.. I am developing s/w in struts2 and hibernate 3 but i think I think we need to use javascript for this but i dont know how to use it.. Please help me out for this
Lokesh Gupta
Not sure what you are asking here. Please make it more clear. Not sure if you are looking for any ajax based solution.
komal
I want to generate automated buyer code. In struts2 template I have country name. country code buyer code. these fields i have in my buyer class(Hibernate 3) all are string variable. When i select country name from country drop down i get country code(ex. India i have IND code, Chine I have CHN code) that code is display in Buyer Code text field as prefix concatenate with increment number For Ex. If i select Indian then i want buyer code as IND001, IND002….. so on. If in case i selct 3rd buyer from China then i want to display buyer code as CHN001. then CHN002….
Please help me for this . I am getting IND CHN prefix by using java script function but what about next number
Lokesh Gupta
Use pad function on autogenerated/ incremental numbers : https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10073699/pad-a-number-with-leading-zeros-in-javascript
TheSharpieOne
The second example has an error.
var window.iAmGlobal = “some val”;
window is already declared, no need for var.
Michael Wales (@walesmd)
My point is: if in your first example you were to alert the window.iAmGlobal variable it would work perfectly fine. There’s no need to further confuse the issue by incorrectly telling people this is how you globally scope a variable, which they shouldn’t even be doing in the first place.
Your 300 word post would be better served teaching hoisting, rather than ” Holy shit! var duh === var duh”.
Lokesh Gupta
I do not write only for experts, rather my readers are beginners and medium level experts with some hand-on. I really need to put some words to make them clear. Anyways, I got your point.
Dom Sammut
Indeed this issue does occur when you have your code split between multiple files in IE and you require them to communicate between each other. I think this IE issue isn’t preset in more recent versions so its not something that is a must have. If you’re in an enterprise environment with required support for old versions of IE this information can be useful.
Lokesh Gupta
True
Michael Wales (@walesmd)
No. None of that is correct. Your first example is the equivalent of your second when run in a browser because of variable hoisting. When you use the keyword var, JavaScript will assign that variable within the current scope. In your first example that scope is the top most, which in a browser is window.
There are tons and tons of examples of this available online, is one of the key facts thou must understand about JavaScript. If you don’t grok hoisting, your applications functioning properly is just pure dumb luck.
Lokesh Gupta
Thanks for your input. I understand this but the thing is behavior of browsers (specially IE) are always surprising. I myself have faced problem what I mentioned in “IE bug with “var a = foo” only declaring a global for file scope”.
So, I am concluding my learning here as always go with “windows.VAR_NAME”. Yes they are identical in a fair world, but we don’t live in that.
Hans
thanks god… no “windows” needed