How to copy a variable in JavaScript?
- by Michael Stum
I have this JavaScript code:
for (var idx in data) {
var row = $("<tr></tr>");
row.click(function() { alert(idx); });
table.append(row);
}
So I'm looking through an array, dynamically creating rows (the part where I create the cells is omitted as it's not important). Important is that I create a new function which encloses the idx variable.
However, idx is only a reference, so at the end of the loop, all rows have the same function and all alert the same value.
One way I solve this at the moment is by doing this:
function GetRowClickFunction(idx){
return function() { alert(idx); }
}
and in the calling code I call
row.click(GetRowClickFunction(idx));
This works, but is somewhat ugly. I wonder if there is a better way to just copy the current value of idx inside the loop?
While the problem itself is not jQuery specific (it's related to JavaScript closures/scope), I use jQuery and hence a jQuery-only solution is okay if it works.