Assigning values to a variable from inside a function

Question

Have an issue with scope in javascript and cant work out how to pass a value out

$(document).ready(function() {   
  availableTags = new Array();
  $.getJSON('index.php?getTagList', function(data) {
      availableTags = data;
      alert(data);
  });
  alert(availableTags);
});

I know that the data is right and the alert confirms it but how do i assign it to the availableTags variable? seriousli strigling with scope in javascript...

Not a scope issue; the `getJSON` callback function runs chronologically last. — apsillers, May 24 '13 at 14:50
Another duplicate: [jQuery async ajax query and returning value problem](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2931100/jquery-async-ajax-query-and-returning-value-problem-scope-closure) — apsillers, May 24 '13 at 14:54

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered May 24 '13 at 14:52

6

The problem is that the $.getJSON(url, callback) is asynchronous. The callback hasn't executed (and set the availableTags variable) before you try to alert the availableTags variable.

answered May 24 '13 at 14:52

RobH

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What Rob said. Basically, you need to put the rest of your code into the `$.getJSON` function, or call another function with the returned data. – Grim... May 24 '13 at 14:53
Thanks Rob, keep forgetting :) – Povilas Daukas May 24 '13 at 15:11

Assigning values to a variable from inside a function

1 Answers1