Javascript: find array by name

Question

Hi,

I have some js arrays and I want to find the arrays by name. for example:

arr1 = [1,2,3];
arr2 = [3,4,5];

And access them like this:

var intNum = 2;
var arrName = 'arr' + intNum;

arrName[0]; // equals 3

Is this possible?

Thanks, Kevin

Answer 1

window['arr'+intNum]

so

arr1 = [1,2,3];
arr2 = [3,4,5];
intNum=2;
alert(window['arr'+intNum][1]); //will alert 4

Answer 2

It is possible but I would suggest you place these arrays as properties of an object, that makes it a lot easier

var arrays {
    arr1 : [1,2,3],
    arr2 : [4,5,6]
}

var arrNum = 2;
var arr = arrays["arr" + intNum] // arrays.arr2

Properties of objects can be accessed both using the . operator and as named items using the ["propname"] notation.

Using eval or resorting to using the above trick on window is not advised.

Eval'ing is normally a sign of ill constructed code, and using window relies on window being the Variable Object of the global scope - this is not part of any spec and will not necessarily work across browsers.