Question

I am using the following technique to load up Javascript dynamically:

var script = document.createElement("script");
script.type = "text/javascript";
script.src = "file.js";
document.body.appendChild(script);

It’s quite a common approach.
It’s also discussed here: http://www.nczonline.net/blog/2009/06/23/loading-javascript-without-blocking/

I know how to get notified once the file has been loaded and executed

What I don’t know is that if the link to the Javascript source file is broken how can I be notified.

Thanks

Answer 1

Listening for events on script elements is not considered reliable (Source). One option that comes to mind is to use setTimeout() to poll for a variable that you expect to be defined in your external script. After x seconds, you could timeout your poll and consider the script as broken.

External Script: file.js:

var MyLibrary = { };

Main document:

var poll;
var timeout = 100; // 10 seconds timeout
var script = document.createElement('script');
script.type = 'text/javascript';
script.src = 'file.js';
document.body.appendChild(script);

poll = function () {
  setTimeout(function () {
    timeout--;
    if (typeof MyLibrary !== 'undefined') {
      // External file loaded
    }
    else if (timeout > 0) {
      poll();
    }
    else {
      // External library failed to load
    }
  }, 100);
};

poll();