Creating Dynamic Variables Using A For Loop In Javasript

Question

I am trying to use a for loop to create a dynamic set of variables but I am not sure how to do it. Here is my code:
```
var articlesLength = $('.training__article').length;
for (var i = 0; i <= articlesLength; ++i) {
  var slide[i] = -( (slideWidth * i) - startPos);
}
```
I could drop the var from var slide[i] and it would work but then the variables would be in global scope which is not good.

Dave McFarland · Accepted Answer

Hi @Gareth Redfern (https://teamtreehouse.com/gareth) ,
@James Andrews (https://teamtreehouse.com/jandrews) is right. var re-declares the variable each time through the loop. But, even with var the slide variable is in global scope. JavaScript only has a notion of "function scope," that is variables are only scoped within functions, not within braces like in some other languages.
Where are you using the slide variable, and why do you need to keep it out of global scope? If you're using slide in a self-contained function (that is, you don't need to use slide in a bunch of different places) you could just put the code into a function and use slide there:
```javascript
function useSlide() {
  var articlesLength = $('.training__article').length;
  var slide = [];
  for (var i = 0; i <= articlesLength; i += 1) {
     slide[i] = -( (slideWidth * i) - startPos);
   }
  // do something with the slide array here
}
useSlide();
```

James Andrews · Answer

The problem is the var slide, because every time you go through the loop you are redeclaring the slide variable.  if you want it not global put the whole thing in a function and call the function

Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Looking to learn something new?

Gareth Redfern

Gareth Redfern

Creating Dynamic Variables Using A For Loop In Javasript

2 Answers

Dave McFarland

Dave McFarland

Gareth Redfern

Gareth Redfern

James Andrews

James Andrews