How can I call a varargs function with an array in ActionScript?

Question

I need to call a varargs function:

function doSomething(... args): Object {
    // do something with each arg
}

However, I'm building the arguments for this dynamically:

var someArgs: Array = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
doSomething(someArgs);

The problem is, when I call the function in this way args ends up being a 1-element array with someArgs as the first element, not a three-element array.

How can I call doSomething with someArgs as the argument array?

(For the search engines, this is argument unpacking)

Note: this is called "argument unpacking". If you search google for that term as well as actionscript you will find a few discussions on the matter. Brian's suggestion to use .apply is correct IMO. — James Fassett
– James Fassett, Commented Aug 11, 2009 at 18:51
Congratulations, you are already #3 result on google under "actionscript argument unpacking" :) — Rydell
– Rydell, Commented Aug 12, 2009 at 11:51

Brian · Accepted Answer · 2009-08-11 18:44:01Z

9

Use Function.apply.

Like this:

doSomething.apply(null, someArgs);

If doSomething is a method of a class, pass in the class instead of null.

answered Aug 11, 2009 at 18:44

Brian

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2 Comments

back2dos Over a year ago

actually, it does not matter, whether you pass in the class/instance ... AS3 automatically creates method closures, where "this" is preassigned to always be the owner of the method ...

Chris R Over a year ago

I ended up finding this about ten minutes after posting. I figured I'd still provide rep to whomever answered, and it's nice to have it on SO.com.

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