Question

what does the following mean?

$.each(json.results, function(i, item) {
    ...
}

I kind of understand the other parts of the line, but if you could explain that as well, I’d appreciate it.

Answer 1

$.each provides a simple iterator and it will execute the callback function once for each element in the array.

For my examples, lets assume:

var json = {
   results: [1, 2, 3]
};

In addition to using the parameters (index, item), the this variable in each callback can be used to reference the current item.

UPDATE: This example changed to show use of the other parameters:

$.each( json.results, function(index, item){
   console.log(this + " " + index + " " + item);
});
// Outputs:
// 1 0 1
// 2 1 2
// 3 2 3

The first parameter is the index of the current item in the loop. It is a zero based index. The second parameter is the item of the current iteration. You can use this or the variable, but the variable comes in handy in situations like this:

$.each (json.results, function(index, item){
   // this == number
   // item == number
   $('div').click(function(e){
      // this == div
      // item == number
   });
});

Additionally, there are a few controls you can use similar to the break and continue statements.

If you want to continue or next at any point, use return true;

$.each( json.results, function(i, item){
  if(this == 2) return true;
  // do something else
});

If you want to break, use return false;

var f;
$.each( json.results, function(i, item){
   if(this == 2){
      f = this;
      return false; // exits the iterator
   }
});