Variable name in function call in Javascript

Question

I'm trying to achieve the following pseudo code:

function processAboutLink(){
}
function processServicesLink(){
}
var variableName = 'about';
process + variableName + Link();
var variableName = 'services';
process + variableName + Link();

I'm aware that the code above isn't real but is a logical representation. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Answer 1

It would be more convenient to have an object, because you can access properties dynamically:

var processLinkFunctions = {
 about: function() { ... },
 services: function() { ... }
};

Then, it's as easy as:

processLinkFunctions[variableName]();

This is basically the same as processLinkFunctions.about() if variableName === "about".

Answer 2

You might want to use object literals for namespacing instead

var process = {
 services: function(){...},
 about: function(){...}
}

then calling them:

process[variable]();

Answer 3

If you make the functions properties of an object, you can then call them by name (and without resorting to eval !):

var functions = {
 about: function() { ... },
 services: function() { ... }
};
var name = 'about';
functions[name]();

• amaters: Care to explain why resorting to eval is bad?
• Alnitak: @amaters because it leads to insecure code, and potentially undefined behaviour. In ES5 strict mode it's completely disallowed.

Answer 4

EDIT don;t use eval. It seems to be dangerous and leads to undefined behaviour.

wrong answer:

eval('process' + variableName + 'Link()');

should work

• amaters: Thanks for the pointer T.J. Seems someone downvotes without telling why using eval is bad. Never knew using eval is bad practice.
• Alnitak: @amaters sorry, I just couldn't help myself! It's an automatic reaction any time I see eval in an answer...
• Alnitak: @amaters yeah, yeah, I know, but it gets tiresome having to explain it every time! I think this was the third answer just today.
• amaters: answer edited. I learned something as well. Thanks for explaining it over and over. After all we are here to learn.