Is there an easy way to create dynamic variables with Javascript?

Question

I\'ve built a data-driven google map with different icons that get assigned to the map depending on the type of item located. So if I have 5 types of landmark, and each gets

Answer 1

If you're going to do it using a declared object such as Landmark["landmark" + i], you really may as well use an index array rather than an associative, it's much easier for iteration. Objects aren't really used with indexed properties because Arrays do a much better job of it:

var myObj =           // object version
{
   "item0": "blah",
   "item1": "blah"
   // etc
}
var myArr =           // array version
[
   "blah",
   "blah"
   // etc
]

Much more sensible to use the array:

landmarks = []; // new array
types = array('hospital','church','library','store',etc);  
var i=0;  
while (i<=types.length) {  
    landmarks.push(new google.maps.Icon());
    landmarks[i].image = "icon" + i + ".png";
    i++;  
}

It makes more sense to do it that way and for...in loops on objects can get a bit messy with prototyped properties being enumerable, etc.

If you're trying to make a variable global, add it to the window object:

var myCustomVar = "landmark" + i;
window[myCustomVar] = new google.maps.Icon();

alert(landmark0);

But this would be polluting the global namespace with many unnecessary variables. So you'd still be better with an array:

window.landmarks = [];
landmarks.push(new google.maps.Icon());
// etc...