How do you make javascript code execute *in order*

Question

Okay, so I appreciate that Javascript is not C# or PHP, but I keep coming back to an issue in Javascript - not with JS itself but my use of it.

I have a function:

Answer 1

Install Firebug, then add a line like this to each of showLoader, updateStatus and hideLoader:

Console.log("event logged");

You'll see listed in the console window the calls to your function, and they will be in order. The question, is what does your "updateStatus" method do?

Presumably it starts a background task, then returns, so you will reach the call to hideLoader before any of the background tasks finish. Your Ajax library probably has an "OnComplete" or "OnFinished" callback - call the following updateStatus from there.