Is there a limit to the number of Javascript objects you can have on the go at any one time?

Question

I'm looking into converting a flash app I have into Javascript but was told that it probably wouldn't be possible due to the number of objects I would have to have on the go.

Can anyone tell me if this is true and, if it is, what the limits are?

TIA,

Urf

Answer 1

This post shows that you can allocate at least 20mb of memory in FF http://blog.votanweb.com/2007/2/24/javascript_memory_limit

There is definately a limit though, but I doubt you'll meet the limit on memory, it is more likely that your performance will be too bad if you are converting a very dynamic flash app.

Answer 2

Flash is very efficient at moving objects around since thats its primary function. Using Javascript to move objects around in HTML is going to way, way slower. Never-the-less quite amazing things can be acheived with Javascript.

See Lemmings

Answer 3

An improved version of the script at link text. This is faster since it uses join, and lets the browser have some time to update the page evey now and then.

function allocate_mem() {
    var mega=[];
    // Strings are stored as UTF-16 = 2 bytes per character.
    // Below a 1Mibi byte string is created
    for(var i=0; i<65536; i++){
        mega.push('12345678')
    }
    mega=mega.join("");

    var x=document.getElementById("max_mem");

    var size=0;
    var large=[];
    function allocate( ) {
        ++size;
        //if (size>400) {alert(large.join("").length/1048576); return; }
        large.push("."+mega.slice(0));
            x.innerHTML = "max memory = " + size + " MB";
        setTimeout(allocate, size %10 ? 0: 200);
    }

    allocate();

}