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Remove unnecessary JavaScript using JavaScript

Answer 1

+1 A:

One thing you might try is to reassign the unnecessary function(s) to a new function that does nothing. Afterall, Javascript functions are first class objects so they can be assigned a new value. This will not remove the lines from your page, but it will render the functions useless. If you want to switch them off temporarily, assign their value to another variable and then reassign them. You can always switch them back to the value saved in the other variable.

<script type="text/javascript">
    function myAmazingFunction(){
       alert("Does Something");
    }
</script>

later...

<script type="text/javascript">
    myAmazingFunction = function(){};

    //Now, call it... 
    myAmazingFunction();
</script>

This is safe because it means that any other code that is calling these functions will not cause errors - they just wont do anything.

Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

Edit: I have confirmed that this approach should work. Here I switch the function from Does Something, to Does Something Else and back again.

<script type="text/javascript">
    function myAmazingFunction() {
        alert("Does Something");
    }
    myAmazingFunction();
    var temp = myAmazingFunction;
    myAmazingFunction = function() { alert("Does Something Else"); };
    myAmazingFunction();
    myAmazingFunction = temp;
    myAmazingFunction();
</script>

results in 3 alert boxes in this order:

Does Something
Does Something Else
Does Something

Daniel Dyson 2010-08-02 08:53:29

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Remove unnecessary JavaScript using JavaScript

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