Javascript - Use String As Object Reference

If I have a bunch of objects, and within these objects is the string 'id' (which is the same as the object name) how can I use this string to reference the object? Example: //These

Solution 1:

If your variables are defined on a global scope, the following works

window[ myObj.id ].data

If you are in a function's scope, things get a lot harder. Easiest way then is to define your objects in a specific namespace on window and retrieve the objects similar to the above code.

Solution 2:

Store test1 and test2 in a key-value collection (aka an object.) Then access it like:

collection[myObj.id].data

Solution 3:

If you want to refer to something using a variable, then make that something an object property, not a variable. If they are sufficiently related to be accessed in that way, then they are sufficiently related to have a proper data structure to express that relationship.

var data = {
    test1: {
        id: "test1",
        data: "Test 1 test 1 test 1"
    },
    test2: {
        id: "test2",
        data: "Test 2 test 2 test 2"
    }
};

Then you can access:

alert( data[myObj.id] );

Solution 4:

Great answers all, thanks for the help, in case any one finds this in future, this is how I'm going to use it:

var parent = {}

parent.test1 = {
    id : "test1",
    data : "Test 1 test 1 test 1"
}

parent.test2 = {
    id : "test2",
    data : "Test 2 test 2 test 2"
}


var myObj = null;

function setMyObj(obj){
   myObj = obj;
}


setMyObj(parent.test1);

parent[myObj.id] = null;
//Test1 object is now null, not myObj!