array help

[jjjamiem]

Let's say I predefine some arrays.

var orange = new Array('orange','fruit','round','peel');
var apple = new Array('apple','fruit','odd','skin');

function whicharray(arrayiwant){
?
}

Just making the above up.

But let's say I want to access one of these with a link.

<a href="#" onclick="javascript:whicharray('orange');">something</a>

How can I carry over which array I'm looking for and access that array? When I call it from that function, it just returns orange as a string, I'm not sure how to tell it I want that array.

[matsko]

If you are trying to make a function which takes the array name as a parameter and then returns it, then with normal coding it might not be possible.

But...

using eval() it might just work.

var orange = new Array('orange','fruit','round','peel');
var apple = new Array('apple','fruit','odd','skin');

function whicharray(arrayiwant)
{
var ar;
eval("ar ="+arrayiwant);
return ar;
}

although, I don't suggest using the eval() function due to it's lack of efficiency.

[Kravvitz]

No, you do not need eval(). I explain the solution in this thread.

jjjamiem, the "javascript:" in the onclick handler is useless. You should remove it. Also, it's best to avoid using inline event handlers. I suggest you read up on Unobtrusive JavaScript and other JavaScript Best Practices.

[Mike Borozdin]

What exactly do you want the function to return the name of array? Any reason for that?

[jjjamiem]

No, you do not need eval(). I explain the solution in this thread.

jjjamiem, the "javascript:" in the onclick handler is useless. You should remove it. Also, it's best to avoid using inline event handlers. I suggest you read up on Unobtrusive JavaScript and other JavaScript Best Practices.

The code was just copy & paste from another example, I'm not using javascript and have a real href, the onclick event is just the preference for anyone who has js on; and thanks for the answer, appreciated.

What exactly do you want the function to return the name of array? Any reason for that?

Accessing certain information without using ajax.

[Mike Borozdin]

Accessing certain information without using ajax.

It's still not clear.

The basic code that determines the array is:

var orange = new Array('orange','fruit','round','peel');
var apple = new Array('apple','fruit','odd','skin');

function whicharray(element){
    var arr;
    for(var i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
        if(orange[i] == element) {
            arr = "orange";
            window.alert(arr);
            return arr;
        } else if(apple[i] == element) {
            arr = "apple";
            window.alert(arr);
            return arr;
        }
    }
}