Variable variables in JavaScript within a loop

Question

var x = 1;
var ctr = 5;
while (x<=ctr){
    var ss_+x = $('input[name=IDMenu_'+x+']').val();
    x++;
}

As you can see above I have a loop that will iterate through input fields with the name IDMenu_1 through to IDMenu_5. I attempted to make the variable names themselves variable by using the syntax var ss_+x; however this is incorrect and does not work.

If I were to not use a loop, this is what I would be doing:

var ss_1 = $('input[name=IDMenu_1]').val();
var ss_2 = $('input[name=IDMenu_2]').val();
var ss_3 = $('input[name=IDMenu_3]').val();
var ss_4 = $('input[name=IDMenu_4]').val();
var ss_5 = $('input[name=IDMenu_5]').val();

Is it possible to accomplish this within a loop?

var ss_+x - what should that do? Have you had a look at your browser's error console while running the above code? — Nico Haase
– Nico Haase, Commented Sep 10, 2018 at 8:55
simply make the var an array and push the values to it. var ss = []; - then ss.push($('input....val()); — Jeff
– Jeff, Commented Sep 10, 2018 at 8:55

Zakaria Acharki · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-10 09:06:16Z

2

You're trying to create variables with dynamic names so you could use window[variable_name].

NOTE: IMO you could use an array of values instead in this case.

var x = 1;
var ctr = 5;

while (x <= ctr) {
  window["ss_" + x] = $('input[name=IDMenu_' + x + ']').val();
  x++;
}

console.log(ss_1, ss_2, ss_3, ss_4, ss_5);

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>

<input name="IDMenu_1" value="10">
<input name="IDMenu_2" value="20">
<input name="IDMenu_3" value="30">
<input name="IDMenu_4" value="40">
<input name="IDMenu_5" value="50">

edited Sep 10, 2018 at 9:06

answered Sep 10, 2018 at 8:57

Zakaria Acharki

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3 Comments

ICG DEVS Over a year ago

This is working and I prefer this one than using array, I don't know which is better but for me this is more simple than using array. Thanks.

Zakaria Acharki Over a year ago

Welcome, Glad I could help.

Logar Over a year ago

@ICGDEVS Also, you could consider not putting all your variables in the global scope, only create one ss object that will contain your properties, by doing the following : var ss = {}; while(...){ ss[x] = ...}; and then access them with ss.1, ss.2, ...

Jeff · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-10 08:58:23Z

2

It'd be better to make the var an array, then push the items to it.

var x = 1;
var ctr = 5;
var ss = [];
while (x<=ctr){
   ss.push($('input[name=IDMenu_'+x+']').val());
   x++;
}

You'll then have the values in

console.log(ss[0]);
console.log(ss[1]);
// ...

answered Sep 10, 2018 at 8:58

Jeff

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