jQuery accessing elements using variables

Question

HTML:

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title></title>
<script src="jQuery/jquery-1.8.2.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script src="js/script1.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</head>
<body>

<div>
    <ul>
        <li>One</li>
        <li>Two</li>
        <li>Three</li>
    </ul>

</div>    

</body>
</html>

Script which works:

$(document).ready(function () {
$('li:nth-child(2)').fadeOut('fast');
});

Now I just use a variable to do the same thing and it does not work anymore.

var $var = $('li:nth-child(2)');
$(document).ready(function () {
$var.fadeOut('fast');
});

Can anyone please tell me the correct syntax. I have just started learning jQuery and know it is probably a simple mistake but I just cannot figure it out. Thanks in Advance. :)

Horen · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-03 18:09:03Z

3

Put it into the document ready function when the li actually exists:

$(document).ready(function () {
   var $var = $('li:nth-child(2)');
   $var.fadeOut('fast')
});

answered Dec 3, 2012 at 18:09

Horen

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2 Comments

Fahad Over a year ago

thanks, it works now. small doubt, when I declare it outside, doesn't it make it a global variable and hence accessible everywhere?

Horen Over a year ago

well, generally yes. But since you are selecting an element that doesn't exist at that time, your variable will always be and stay empty. But yes - you created a global variable :)

Darcy · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-03 18:09:16Z

1

The variable needs to be assigned inside the $(document).ready(function() { }

answered Dec 3, 2012 at 18:09

Darcy

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