I have a small question:

I have a function in javascript.

var func = function(variable)
{
    result = variable;
}

If I call

func(rabbit);

I need the result to be "rabbit".

I cannot figure out how to put the variable between the two quotes.

I have a small question:

I have a function in javascript.

var func = function(variable)
{
    result = variable;
}

If I call

func(rabbit);

I need the result to be "rabbit".

I cannot figure out how to put the variable between the two quotes.

• javascript
• function
• variables
• double-quotes

• 4 It is not possible for a function to know the name of the variable passed by its caller. – SLaks Commented Nov 20, 2012 at 23:12
• @SLaks: ... as long as you don't parse a stacktrace with stringified functions :-) – Bergi Commented Nov 20, 2012 at 23:19
• 1 @SLaks There's an horrible way to do it. See my answer – lukedays Commented Nov 20, 2012 at 23:48
• @lukedays: Key word being horrible. – SLaks Commented Nov 21, 2012 at 4:12

5 Answers 5

Assuming rabbit is supposed to be a string:

func("rabbit");

If rabbit is actually a variable, then there's no way to do this because the variable (meaning the implementation's representation of a variable) isn't actually passed to the function, but rather its value is.

Actually there's an ancient way to retrieve the variable name.

var func = function(variable)
{
    console.log(variable); // outputs "white"
    console.log(arguments.callee.caller.toString().match(/func\((.*?)\)/)[1]); // outputs "rabbit"
}

rabbit = 'white';

func(rabbit);

See it running http://jsfiddle/Q55Rb/

You could do this

function whatever(input) {
  return '\"' + input + '\"';
}

result should be in quotes

I could not tell from your question whether you wanted "rabbit" to be the property name, or the value. So here is both:

var func = function(variable) {
    window[variable] = 'abc';    // Setting the variable as what is passed in
    window.result = variable;    // Normal
}

func('rabbit');    // Will set both window.rabbit to 'abc', and window.result to 'rabbit'

I wouldn't advise setting global variables, though. More info

Ok I thought that was my problem. Now I'm pretty sure that's not it but I have no clue what it is then.

I have this in my function:

defaults = {title :{'pan':-1,'left':0,'volume':0.30,'top':111}}; 

Where title is a variable from the function. But as a result I get title in defaults instead of the actual title stored in the variable named title. Do you understand me?