Question

How to alter the JavaScript code below so that it can avoid exposing the variables and functions to the global scope?

var nMax = 10;
var i = 0;
var step = function(){
                //do stuff
                i += 1;
                if(i < nMax){
                                step();
                }else{
                                alert('finished');
                }
}
step();

Ideally it would be grateful if the reason behind it could be provided.

Any idea would be very much appreciated!

Answer 1

Just wrap it in an anonymous function, and call that function immediately:

(function(){
    var nMax = 10;
    var i = 0;
    var step = function(){
                    //do stuff
                    i += 1;
                    if(i < nMax){
                                    step();
                    }else{
                                    alert('finished');
                    }
    }
    step();
})();

Another Example: http://jsfiddle.net/n5Srd/