How do I access a jQuery plugin variable from within method?

Question

I'm trying to get write a simple jQuery plugin, I've come to a stumbling block though in that I'm not sure how to access variables on the plugin from within a method for that plugin.

(function($) {
    $.fn.testPlugin = function() {
        var testVar = "Hello World";
        alert(testVar);
        $.fn.testPlugin.testMethod();
    };

    $.fn.testPlugin.testMethod = function() {
        alert($.fn.testPlugin.testVar);
    };
}(jQuery));

$("body").testPlugin();

FIDDLE HERE

This code first alerts "Hello World" then "undefined" (so attempting to access it from within the method returns an empty variable), is there any way to access testVar from within the testMethod? Is this not possible? Am I going about this in the wrong way?

Yevgeniy.Chernobrivets · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-18 10:56:44Z

2

You can put variable in the outer scope - scope of your self invoking function.

(function($) {
    var testVar;
    $.fn.testPlugin = function() {
        testVar = "Hello World";
        alert(testVar);
        $.fn.testPlugin.testMethod();
    };

    $.fn.testPlugin.testMethod = function() {
        alert(testVar);
    };
}(jQuery));

$("body").testPlugin();

This could be more desirable approach if for example you do not want your variable to be accessible by any other code except your plugin. Fiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/79sg8es1/.

answered Aug 18, 2014 at 10:56

Yevgeniy.Chernobrivets

3,1942 gold badges15 silver badges14 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Manish Kr. Shukla · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-18 10:49:36Z

1

You are creating a local variable inside your first method. That makes it's scope restricted to the method itself.

Instead, you should actually create that variable with reference to the plugin like this :

$.fn.testPlugin.testVar = "Hello World";

Your updated plunker goes here : http://jsfiddle.net/5zt9ps20/

answered Aug 18, 2014 at 10:49

Manish Kr. Shukla

4,4771 gold badge22 silver badges35 bronze badges

1 Comment

Sean Over a year ago

Thanks! I knew I must have been missing something obvious.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How do I access a jQuery plugin variable from within method?

2 Answers 2

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related