Javascript object key by element id? (jQuery)

Question

This looks like a very simple issue, but I just can't get it to work.

I have a Javascript object like this:

var person = {};
person.one = {gender: 'male', name: 'John'};
person.two = {gender: 'male', name: 'Doe'};
person.three = {gender: 'female', name: 'Jane'};

Then I have some HTML like so:

<a id="one">click</a>
<a id="two">click</a>
<a id="three">click</a>

Now, I need to get the correct object value by the id of the clicked link. So basically, I need to dynamically access the 1st-level object keys without a for-loop, since the keys are strings.

I've tried this:

$('a').click(function() {
   alert(person[$(this).attr('id')['gender']]);
});

It didn't work. Neither did this:

$('a').click(function() {
   alert(person.($(this).attr('id')).gender);
});

All I get back is an "uncaught exception: Syntax error, unrecognized expression". Obviously, my syntax is way off.

I've already read through many posts on here, but couldn't find the solution. Any ideas?

your first example didnt work because you put the first closing brace in the wrong place. person[$(this).attr('id')]['gender'] — seanmonstar
– seanmonstar, Commented May 26, 2010 at 23:10

Matchu · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-26 22:51:19Z

3

To access a property with a dynamic name like you're going for, the correct syntax is to use brackets, like an array.

alert(person[$(this).attr('id')].gender);

Or it might just be cleaner-looking to pull that ID into a separate variable:

var id = $(this).attr('id');
alert(person[id].gender);

Your call :)

answered May 26, 2010 at 22:51

Matchu

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Comments

steve_c · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-26 22:50:55Z

3

Try:

$('a').click(function() {
   alert(person[$(this).attr('id')]['gender']);
});

You had your square brackets in the wrong spot.

answered May 26, 2010 at 22:50

steve_c

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Comments

Stefan Kendall · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-26 22:51:03Z

2

Try alert(person[$(this).attr('id')].gender)

answered May 26, 2010 at 22:51

Stefan Kendall

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