javascript get name of parent object/variable [duplicate]

Question

Lets say I have

var myObject = {

  'myFunction' : function () {
    // something here that lets me get 'myObject'
  }

}

I have tried various functions found here and stuff like this.constructor.name but i always get 'Object' as the value returned. Is there any way to get the actual name of the variable in this situation?

edit to explain the why so maybe people will better understand...I want to be able to make a function that is continuously called with setInterval. Something like this:

var myObject = {
  'intval' : '',
  'timeout' : 500,

  'start' : function () {
    this.objectName = 'myObject'; // <--I want this to be dynamically popped
    this.intval=window.setInterval("window['"+this.objectName+"'].myFunction()",this.timeout);
  },

  'stop' : function () {
    window.clearInterval(this.intval);
    this.intval='';
  },

  'myFunction' : function () {
    // do something
  }
}

This works just fine if i hardcode 'myObject' to this.objectName but I don't want it to be hardcoded. Problem is that I wan't just do setInterval("window[this.objectName]",100) becausethisis not in the right context whensetInterval` is run, and I don't want to have the objectname hardcoded

Are you looking for something like this, that is some way to refer to the object? — helpermethod
– helpermethod, Commented May 31, 2012 at 17:16
no, i'm not looking for an object reference, i'm looking for the actual name of the object — slinkhi
– slinkhi, Commented May 31, 2012 at 17:17
For the edited question: start: function () { var that = this; this.intval = setInterval(function () { that.myFunction(); }, this.timeout); }, — jasssonpet
– jasssonpet, Commented May 31, 2012 at 17:47

Evan Davis · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-31 17:12:39Z

5

No, you can't do that in JavaScript.

answered May 31, 2012 at 17:12

Evan Davis

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Comments

Alex K. · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-31 17:47:48Z

3

One way;

var myObject = {
    'myFunction' : function () {
        for (var name in window) {
            if (window[name] === this) { 
                alert(name);
                break;
            }
        }
     }
}

Not very nice IMO, marginally better if you wrap it in your own namespace.

You could also always

var myObject = {
    moniker: "myObject",
    ...

In light of your update you don't need to resolve the object at all;

var myObject = {
    'intval' : '',
    'timeout' : 1500,
    'start' : function () {
        var self = this;
        this.intval = window.setInterval(function() {
            self.myFunction()
        }, this.timeout);
    },
    'myFunction' : function() {
        alert(this.intval);
    }
}

edited May 31, 2012 at 17:47

answered May 31, 2012 at 17:21

Alex K.

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3 Comments

slinkhi Over a year ago

yeah i was previously just setting a property like your 2nd example

Alex K. Over a year ago

Updated above, if your prob was the binding of this you don't need to resolve the name

slinkhi Over a year ago

aha! your first example worked fine but that last edit of yours is EXACTLY what I was looking for, thanks!

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 11:52:36Z

1

for (var name in this.global)
      if (this.global[name] == this) 
        return name

How to get class object's name as a string in Javascript?

edited May 23, 2017 at 11:52

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered May 31, 2012 at 17:19

jbabey

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Comments

Matt McMahon · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-31 17:37:09Z

1

In short, nope.

The way you're creating your objects, myObject is nothing more than a label with a (relatively loose) affiliation with an object literal. In Java or C++ terms, myObject is more like a pointer then a class name. If you want a stronger link between the label myObject and the object it references, you'll need to use a constructor or subclass pattern. See this article on golimojo.com for a pretty solid overview.

answered May 31, 2012 at 17:37

Matt McMahon

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