Accessing nested Javascript JSON properties through Variables

Question

Say I have a config file in which I have paths to JSON properties. My JSON looks like:

var test = { test: { test2: { test3: 1 } } }

and I have a string str = "test.test2.test3"

I know I can access the top level one like this: var foo = "test", test[foo]

But test["test.test2.test3"] does not work. On the other hand test["test"]["test2"]["test3"] works, but this is not a one liner if I have more complex objects (some can be 5 levels in, some can be 3 etc)

Is there any way to access this property directly instead of splitting on the dot and looping through?

That isn't JSON, it is a JavaScript object literal. JSON is a data format based on a subset of JavaScript (which that code does not conform to). — Quentin
– Quentin, Commented Mar 23, 2011 at 21:53

MooGoo · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-23 22:01:43Z

4

with(test) eval(str);

Did anyone's head explode?

It's either that or

eval('test.' + str);

Take your pick from the bad practice basket.

Though for the first example if you actually want the value you'd want to do this

var value;
with(test) value = eval(str);

But that kind of takes away from the purity of this bad practice masterpiece.

edited Mar 23, 2011 at 22:01

answered Mar 23, 2011 at 21:56

MooGoo

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1 Comment

V_H Over a year ago

Ah thanks, eval completely slipped my mind, for those very reasons. I haven't seen with yet, so that's interesting.

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