Reference variable with computed name [duplicate]

Question

I'm looking to access a variable by using a variable name dynamically computed at runtime. Example code:

var firstSecond = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
var tempDatabase = 'first';
var tempTable = 'Second';
var copyArray = MAGIC(tempDatabase + tempTable);

copyArray should be the array: ['a', 'b', 'c']. Is there a way to achieve this?

It's unclear what you're asking. copyArray is equal to "firstSecond" not an array. — David G
– David G, Commented Mar 4, 2016 at 1:54
No. You cannot access local variables by name in JavaScript, except by evil. And you cannot copy arrays by assignment. This seems like an XY problem: what are you actually trying to do? — Amadan
– Amadan, Commented Mar 4, 2016 at 1:55
Have you checked out stackoverflow.com/questions/5117127/… ? — General_Twyckenham
– General_Twyckenham, Commented Mar 4, 2016 at 2:04
MAGIC = eval, but you really should not. Store all the possible arrays in an object, and reference them by a dynamic property name. — Bergi
– Bergi, Commented Mar 4, 2016 at 2:04

Julien · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-04 02:08:00Z

1

You can use an object:

var o = {firstSecond: ['a', 'b', 'c']}
var tempDatabase = 'first';
var tempTable = 'Second';
var copyArray = o[tempDatabase + tempTable];

document.write(copyArray)

https://jsfiddle.net/pdt3sse7/

answered Mar 4, 2016 at 2:08

Julien

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1 Comment

jarsushi Over a year ago

Thanks. That worked!

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