javascript get name of parent object/variable

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, May 31 '12 at 17:16
no, i'm not looking for an object reference, i'm looking for the actual name of the object — slinkhi, May 31 '12 at 17:17
For the edited question: start: function () { var that = this; this.intval = setInterval(function () { that.myFunction(); }, this.timeout); }, — jasssonpet, May 31 '12 at 17:47

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered May 31 '12 at 17:12

5

No, you can't do that in JavaScript.

answered May 31 '12 at 17:12

Evan Davis

35,493
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50
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Alex K. · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-31T17:47:48.123

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 '12 at 17:47

answered May 31 '12 at 17:21

Alex K.

171,639
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yeah i was previously just setting a property like your 2nd example – slinkhi May 31 '12 at 17:36
Updated above, if your prob was the binding of `this` you don't need to resolve the name – Alex K. May 31 '12 at 17:49
aha! your first example worked fine but that last edit of yours is EXACTLY what I was looking for, thanks! – slinkhi May 31 '12 at 20:21

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:52

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 '17 at 11:52

Community

1
1

answered May 31 '12 at 17:19

jbabey

45,965
12
71
94

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered May 31 '12 at 17:37

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.

javascript get name of parent object/variable

4 Answers4