How can one de-reference JavaScript variables when enclosing an outer scope

Question

Ok, here\'s a problem script.

var links = [ \'one\', \'two\', \'three\' ];

for( var i = 0; i < links.length; i++ ) {
    var a = document.createElement(          


        

Answer 1

I'd stay with your own solution, but modify it in the following way:

var links = [ 'one', 'two', 'three' ];

function handler() {
    alert( this.i );
}

for( var i = 0; i < links.length; i++ ) {
    var a = document.createElement( 'div' );
    a.innerHTML = links[i];
    a.i = i; //set a property of the current element with the current value of i
    a.onclick = handler;
    document.body.appendChild( a );
}

This way, only one function object gets created - otherwise, the function literal will be evaluated on every iteration step!

A solution via closure is even worse performance-wise than your original code.