understanding the javascript global namespace and closures

Question

I\'m trying to improve my understanding of the global namespace in javascript and I\'m curious about a few things:

1. is there a \"GOD\" (i.e. a parent) object

Answer 1

If you NEED to put variables in the global namespace, and you likely will at some point, create a single object variable and add your other variables to it as properties or methods. Give the object a name that is not likely to be used by anyone else (admittedly, this is where collision problems arise, but that can be mitigated by careful, standardized naming).

e.g. Instead of:

var thing1 = 'table';
var anotherthing = 'chair';
var mypet = 'dog';
var count = 4;
var show_something: function( _txt ) { return _txt.trim(); };

Do this:

var cmjaimet_obj = {
  thing1: 'table',
  anotherthing: 'chair',
  mypet: 'dog',
  count: 4,
  show_something: function( _txt ) { return _txt.trim(); }
};

Then later call them as properties:

e.g. Instead of:

count += 2;
anotherthing = 'sofa';
console.log( show_something( 'Thing: ' + anotherthing ) );

Do this:

cmjaimet_obj.count += 2;
cmjaimet_obj.anotherthing = 'sofa';
console.log( cmjaimet_obj.show_something( 'Thing: ' + cmjaimet_obj.anotherthing ) );