Run a javascript function on script load

Question

I am using jQuery. I keep all of my function definitions wrapped in the $(document).ready event in application.js. I have a function from it that I would like to call somewhere in the body of the page I am working on.

I was wondering if there is some alternative to the .ready event that will work on a script load. Ideally I would like to do something like: $('application.js').ready( call function );

In the jQuery documentation it only mentions the $(document).ready call but I was wondering if this can be altered or if there is some plain javascript alternative.

Answer 1

I think you’re looking for $.getScript. This jQuery function loads a JavaScript file from the server using a GET HTTP request and executes it. You can specify a callback function, to be executed after the script itself has been executed.

$.getScript('foo.js', function() {
 alert('foo.js was loaded, do something cool now');
});

Answer 2

I am curious about this myself, but instinct would tell me you'd want to wait for the document to finish loading before running any javascript.