jQuery save local variable for use later on in the code

Question

Is there anyway that I can save or access a local variable outside of it's function? Consider the code below:

$( "#droppable2" ).droppable({
        activeClass: "ui-state-hover",
        hoverClass: "ui-state-active",
        accept: "#draggable3",
        drop: function( event, ui ) {

            jdc = $(this).attr("id"); //I need to use this value later
            $( this )
                .addClass( "ui-state-highlight" );
                var x = ui.helper.clone();   
                x.appendTo('body');

                var jdi = $("img").attr("id");// I need to use this value later

                $(this).droppable( 'disable' );
        }
    });

Is there anyway to get the values of the two variables (jdc and jdi above) for later use outside of the function?

The ultimate goal is to get id of droppable container and content of dropped element.

I ain't 100% sure but just try not declaring with var at initialisation should make it global. — Stephane Gosselin
– Stephane Gosselin, Commented May 30, 2011 at 19:36
@kobe, thanks for the response. If i define them as global variable, am I able to change their values locally within the function and get the updated value outside of the function? Sorry if I'm sounding naive, I'm new to this. Also the project will have about three of such functions with local variables whose values i would need to call later on in the script. But i figured that if I get this one function to work, I can proceed with the others. Thanks — Sol
– Sol, Commented May 30, 2011 at 19:41

Thomas · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-30 19:39:16Z

23

try this:

jQuery(element).data(key,value);
// Store arbitrary data associated with the matched elements.

or declare your variable outside the function.

var example;

function abc(){
   example = "12345";
}

abc();

console.log(example);

answered May 30, 2011 at 19:39

Thomas

4633 silver badges8 bronze badges

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

1 Comment

Luke Over a year ago

Just to be explicit (for any newbies out there - I am one and this is what I was doing wrong), declaring the variable (var example;) outside the function and defining the variable (example = "12345";) inside the function is the key to this answer. It won't work if you declare + define the variable (var example = "12345";) inside the function - this will only apply locally (inside the function). In short, to save a local variable globally, declare (use var) outside the function and define (don't use var) inside the function.

kei · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-30 19:39:52Z

1

var jdc;
var jdi;    

$( "#droppable2" ).droppable({
    activeClass: "ui-state-hover",
    hoverClass: "ui-state-active",
    accept: "#draggable3",
    drop: function( event, ui ) {

        jdc = $(this).attr("id"); //I need to use this value later
        $( this )
            .addClass( "ui-state-highlight" );
            var x = ui.helper.clone();   
            x.appendTo('body');

            jdi = $("img").attr("id");// I need to use this value later

            $(this).droppable( 'disable' );
    }
});

answered May 30, 2011 at 19:39

kei

20.5k2 gold badges38 silver badges64 bronze badges

1 Comment

Sol Over a year ago

Thanks for the initiative Thomas; and Kei for the implementation. MASSIVE THANKS to everyone. Works like a charm. :D

Pointy · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-30 20:14:05Z

0

You could always just store them as data on the element:

$(this).data('jdi', $('img').attr('id'));

Then you can get it back from that element with another call to ".data()":

var theSavedJdi = $('whatever').data('jdi');

edited May 30, 2011 at 20:14

answered May 30, 2011 at 19:39

Pointy

415k62 gold badges600 silver badges631 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

jQuery save local variable for use later on in the code

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related