How do I get global scope inside define function?

Question

Can you get global scope while using strict mode and also making sure that you can run on non window environment.

See these examples:

define(['other', 'thing'], function() {
    // this === window in desktop environment
    // this === GLOBAL in node environment
});
define(['other', 'thing'], function() {
    "use strict";
    // this === undefined in desktop environment
    // this === GLOBAL in node environment
    // As of my understanding node has to be configured using `node --use_strict`
    // (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9031888/any-way-to-force-strict-mode-in-node)
    // But that not the point.
});

Is there any way to get the global variable (window/GLOBAL) inside define.

Possibly duplicate of: http://stackoverflow.com/q/8280137/783743 — Aadit M Shah, Jun 13 '13 at 06:06

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 11 '13 at 12:22

8

var global = Function("return this")();

If you don't have access to Function, then also try

var Function = function(){}.constructor,
    global = Function("return this")();

answered Jun 11 '13 at 12:22

Esailija

138,174
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4

These will be blocked if we're using CSP and don't allowing unsafe-eval. For example: `Uncaught EvalError: Refused to evaluate a string as JavaScript because 'unsafe-eval' is not an allowed source of script in the following Content Security Policy directive: "script-src https: 'self'".` – Serg Jul 05 '15 at 00:07

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 12 '13 at 02:12

This may or may not help, but I did come up with a way to override the context of requirejs modules using the following code...

require.s.contexts._.execCb = function(name, callback, args) {
    return callback.apply(/* your context here */, args);
};

Again, not sure if that'll help with use strict and all, but who knows... :)

https://gist.github.com/jcreamer898/5685754

Andreas Louv · Answer 3 · 2013-06-07T10:41:17.610

What i have come op with so far:

(function(root) { // Here root refers to global scope
    define('mything', ['other', 'thing'], function() {

    });
}(this);

But then I can't use r.js to minify my application.

And another could be to check what to use:

define(['other', 'thing'], function() {
    var root = typeof GLOBAL != 'undefined' ? GLOBAL : window;
});

Yet another way it to define a global file which returns the global:

global.js:

define(function() {
    return typeof GLOBAL != 'undefined' ? GLOBAL : window;
});

mything.js

define(['global', 'other', 'thing'], function(root) {
    // root === window/GLOBAL
});

But I don't like these way because what if some 3. global variable is introduced this will break, or if the user in a browser environment defines GLOBAL then that will be returned.

I would like to see if anyone have come up with a smarter way.

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 09 '13 at 10:16

0

What if you stored the window reference on another universally accessible object, such as Object.prototype or something along those lines?

answered Jun 09 '13 at 10:16

redline

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8

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:16

This is what I usually do (it works for browsers, node.js and RingoJS - even in strict mode):

if (!global) var global = this;

define(['other', 'thing'], function() {
    // use global
});

define(['other', 'thing'], function() {
    "use strict";
    // use global
});

Read the following StackOverflow thread for more details: Defining an implementation independent version of the global object in JavaScript

How do I get global scope inside define function?

5 Answers5