Question

Was wondering if there is a way in Javascript to call function/method names by string?

Scenario, writing a bit of jQuery that runs an Effect on target(s). I’d like to make this Effect Dynamic (Changeable by the user).

I guess, ideally i would be looking for something like jQuery('target').Effect('slideDown','slow');

Or anything that could produce the same results, with out having to have some overbearing Switch Statements like switch(vEffect){ case 'slideDown': jQuery().slideDown(); break; } which to me seems redundant…

Answer 1

You can use the property syntax to reference a method:

jQuery('target')['slideDown']('slow');

or, if you have it in a variable:

var methodName = 'slideDown';
jQuery('target')[methodName]('slow');

You could also create your own jQuery plug-in called effect that took parameters like you want and then called the actual method using the above technique.

jQuery.fn.effect = function(methodName, speed) {
    return this[methodName](speed);
}

which you could then call like this:

jQuery('target').effect('slideDown', 'slow);