Get returned value from javascript function

Question

function get_new_project_id() {
    function subFunction() {
        $.ajax({
          url: 'includes/ajax.php?request=create_untitled_project',
          success: function(response) {
            return response; // result is a number like 19
          }
        });
    }
    return subFunction();
};

var resultnumber = get_new_project_id();

this is probably one of the most basic questions... why isnt resultnumber 19? how can I do it so it can return a html or text value from function? sometimes i get xmlhttp request object. i just want a simple number to be returned.

Darin Dimitrov · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-02 07:22:49Z

2

That's because the success function is executed asynchronously because it is an AJAX call. So it makes no sense to return a value in an AJAX callback because it could execute much after the containing function has returned.

In order to fix this you will need to manipulate the result inside the success function because they will be available only there:

function subFunction() {
    $.ajax({
        url: 'includes/ajax.php?request=create_untitled_project',
        success: function(response) {
            doSomethingWithTheResult(response);
        }
    });
    return 'AJAX request initiated but results will be available later';
}

answered Dec 2, 2010 at 7:22

Darin Dimitrov

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1 Comment

Scott Yu - builds stuff Over a year ago

thanks, finally got it working based on you and ignacio's suggestion.

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-02 07:23:10Z

2

The first "A" in "AJAX" stands for "Asynchronous". The function inside has not yet run by the time get_new_project_id() returns. The function will have to put the result somewhere else so that it can be retrieved later.

answered Dec 2, 2010 at 7:23

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams

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