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Javascript push() replacing element instead of appending

Here's a function I have written to add words to local storage using Javascript. In case you're wondering, this is my attempt at building a search history functionality for a simple dictionary lookup site.
function add2local(entry){
var l = localStorage.length;
if(l==0){
var lu = [entry];
localStorage.setItem("w", JSON.stringify(lu));
}
else {
var lu = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("w")); alert(lu);
lu.push(entry); alert(lu);
}}
My understanding is the this function would keep appending its argument to local storage every time it's called. So, the first time I call it, I send it the word pirate. This gets added to the array and subsequently to the local storage as expected. The first alert() (the alert() functions are solely being used for testing) confirms this. The second time, I call it with the word vampire. Now, going by the function's logic, vampire should be appended to the array and thus the second alert() should output "pirate, vampire." And so it does.
But the third time around, say, I call the function with the word foo. This time around, it should output "pirate, vampire, foo" but instead shows "pirate, foo". Every subsequent call simply replaces the second word with the new word instead of appending it. What might I be doing wrong here? Am I misunderstanding how push() works?

The if condition and logic is incorrect; it is irrelevant how many items localStorage has, but it is very important to re-save the modified array.
In any case, I suspect an impl. might look as so:
function add2local(entry){
// load entries - if there are none, we simulate an empty array to load
var lu = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("w") || "[]");
// add new entry
lu.push(entry);
// write back - so change is not lost between function calls
localStorage.setItem("w", JSON.stringify(lu));
// return all local entries saved - for use from the caller
return lu;
}

Why check the storage length? You don't care. Fetch the key and if it's null then default to empty array.
function add2local (entry) {
var key = "w"
var value = localStorage.getItem(key)
if (value) {
value = JSON.parse(value)
} else {
value = []
}
value.push(entry)
localStorage.setItem(key, JSON.stringify(value))
}

Confusion around closure/scope

Today while working with some JS I had a bug in my code. I was able to resolve it but I don't really understand why the change I made works. All I can guess is that it comes down to either closure or variable scope.
I was trying to build up a nested hash of arrays like so:
var maxNumberOfPairs = 2;
var container = {};
var pairsHash = {};
$.each(["nurse", "doctor", "janitor", "chef", "surgeon"], function(index, role) {
for(var i = 0; i < maxNumberOfPairs; i++){
var pairIdSubString = "attribute_" + i + "_" + role;
pairsHash["attribute_" + i] = [pairIdSubString + "_night", pairIdSubString + "_day"];
}
container [role] = pairsHash;
});
If you run this you get a nice nested output inside container but when you look at each array in the hash you get a weird behaviour with the string produced.
Each one has the last role in each string like so:
"attribute_0_surgeon_night"
If you log out the variable pairIdSubString it correctly has the role in the string, but as soon as this is added to pairHash it just uses the last element in the $.each array.
I was able to fix it by moving pairsHash inside the $.each but outside the for loop.
Can anyone explain to my why the output was different after moving it inside the each?
Thanks

It actually has to do with reference vs value. When its outside the each you are operating on the same object over and over so every time you set it to the container you are just setting a reference to the same object that is constantly changing. So every reference in container after the loop is the last state of the pairsHash because they all point to the same object.
When you put the pairsHash in the each it is reinitialized every time so they all point to different memory addresses. Not the same one since a new one is created every loop.
To further clarify all objects are just references to a memory address In JavaScript so in order to get new one you need to initialize or to pass by value to a function clone it.

jQuery data() with multiple parameters?

I want to add data variables to an element before causing a specific behavior, but this may require adding more than one data parameter. How can I accomplish this?
$("#dlg_box").data("r_redirect","index.php").dialog("open");

You can do it like this:
var data = $("#dlg_box").data();
data.r_redirect = "index.php";
data.foo = "bar";
$("#dlg_box").dialog("open");
This was taken from here.
To retrieve your values:
$("#dlg_box").data("r_redirect");
$("#dlg_box").data("foo");

JQuery's data() method also takes an JS Object as a parameter. So you might think of passing {"r_redirect": "index.php", "whatEver": "youWant" ...} etc to pass multiple values match your requirement.
Ultimately, the data() method converts your parameters into an Object. So whether you pass an Object or Key and Value separately should not matter

There are different ways to attach data to a jQuery dialog. If you need to attach multiple Data, I recomend using .data("myData", { /* OBJECT */ }, however you can also use inline string and array data. As far as why yours won't work, with so little code to go on, it could be numerous things. However, I've attached a working example of a Dialog with "params" or data for you to take example from. If you post more of your header code tho, I have a feeling we might find a syntax error or a lack of "doc ready" included. Just some thoughts. Anyway, my example:
jsFiddle
$(function() {
// Set the dialog to not open on load and clear all changes made when closed
$("#dlg").dialog({
autoOpen: false,
modal: true,
close: function(e) {
$(this).children("input").nextAll("p").remove();
}
}) // next i call for my first inner button which will show you how to get "attached" data
.children("#attached").on("click", function(e) {
var dlgData = $("#dlg").data("myData");
$(this).after($("<p />").text(dlgData.data1 + " " + dlgData.data2));
}) // finally, the button that will get the string data that was added in the HTML
.next("#inline").on("click", function(e) {
var dlgData = $("#dlg").data("inline");
$(this).after($("<p />").text(dlgData));
});
// simply open our dialog
$("button").on("click", function(e) {
// HERE data is ATTCHED to our dialog just before opening
$("#dlg").data("myData", { data1: "Hello", data2: "world" }).dialog("open")
});
});

$('#Dialog').data('data1', data1).data('data2', data2).dialog('open');
While Initializing the dialog get the values following:
var data1 = $(this).data('data1');
var data2 = $(this).data('data2');

There are some rules you should be aware of before using this!
ADDING
Adding variables using the object returned from $('.selector').data() works because the data object passes by reference, so anywhere you add a property, it gets added. If you call data() on another element, it gets changed. It is what it is what it is...
Adding an object places a object inside of the data object, as well as "extends the data previously stored with that element." - http://api.jquery.com/data/#entry-longdesc
That means that adding an obj to dataObj becomes
dataObj === { /*previous data*/, obj : { } }
Adding an array does not extend the data previously stored, but doesn't behave the same as a simple value either...
USING
If you have simple values stored, you can place them into variables and do what you want with them without changing the data object.
however
if you are using an object or array to store data on an element, beware!
Just because you store it to a variable does not mean you are not changing data value.
Just because you pass it to a function does not mean you are not changing data values!
It is what it is what it is.. unless it's simple.. then it's just a copy. :p
var data = $("#id").data(); // Get a reference to the data object
data.r_redirect = "index.php"; // Add a string value
data.num = 0; // Add a integer value
data.arr = [0,1,2]; // Add an array
data.obj = { a : "b" }; // Add an object
// but here is where the fun starts!
var r_redirectString = data.r_redirect; // returns "index.php", as expected.. cool
r_redirectString = "changed" // change the value and the compare :
data.r_redirect == r_redirectString // returns false, the values are different
var oArr = data.arr; // Now lets copy this array
oArr.push(3); // and modify it.
data.arr == oArr // should be false? Nope. returns true.
// arrays are passed by reference.
// but..
var oObj = data.obj // what about objects?
oObj["key"] = "value"; // modify the variable and
data.obj["key"] == oObj["key"] // it returns true, too!
So, resources..
What's the best way to store multiple values for jQuery's $.data()?
https://stackoverflow.com/a/5759883/1257652

finding the class of .click function

i have a string objects of books which i have got from a JSON objects. This Book object has three Key value pairs, Title,Author and URL. I use a for loop to read each object and just put the title of the object as a button on the html page. But when the button is clicked i want the URL of the book to be alerted. As i read the objects i make Books objects and push it into an array for later use. but i am not able to Use .Click() method the URL is not right. Please see the code for better understanding. :-)
for (i = 0; i < 6; i++) //I know that there is only 65 Books..jsonString.books.lenght is not working.
{
var title = jsonString.books[i].title;
var classname = title.replace(/\s/g, "");
var author = jsonString.books[i].author;
var URL = jsonString.books[i].url;
var htmlString = '<div class="' + classname + '"><input type="button" value="' + title + '"></div>';
$(htmlString).appendTo(attachPoint).click(function () {
loadBook(URL);
});
OneBook = new Book(author, title, URL);
arr.push(OneBook);
}
attachpoint is a reference in the html file that i got from
var attachpoint=document.querySelector('.buttonAttachPoint');
So in the above code the URL that i get on clicking is always the last object in the jsonString. this is happening coz of the for loop. So is there a way i can get to class name of the Div that has onclick or the title of the button so that i can get the URL from the array of objects i created? Or is there an easier way. Also could any one point out why "jsonString.books.lenght" is not working? Thanks in advance.:-) all the help much appreciated. :-)

Creating a closure using an immediately invoked function expression should do the trick. Just replace this:
$(htmlString).appendTo(attachPoint).click(function () {
loadBook(URL);
});
with this:
(function(URL) {
$(htmlString).appendTo(attachPoint).click(function () {
loadBook(URL);
});
})(URL);
URL inside the scope of that anonymous function will have the value passed to it, which will be the correct value for that iteration of the for loop.

In ECMAScript, variables are scoped to their function, rather than any block.
The functions you are binding to click have a closure over URL in the context of the loop as a whole, not over URL in the context of the loop iteration.
This means that whenever any of the functions are invoked, URL will have the last value that the loop sets it to.
You need to freeze the value of URL for each loop. One way to do this is to have a function elsewhere that takes URL as an argument, and returns a function that closes over it, thus:
function getBookLoader(url) {
return function (){
loadBook(url);
};
}
You can then replace your ... .click line with the following:
$(htmlString).appendTo(attachPoint).click(getBookLoader(URL))
To answer the question in the title, the target property of an event contains the object to which the event was dispatched, and the currentTarget property contains the object whose listeners are currently being evaluated. currentTargetshould be the div in question.

Remembering the last value passed to a JavaScript function called on click

Below is my code fragment:
<div onclick = "myClick('value 1')">
button 1
</div>
<div onclick = "myClick('value 2')">
button 2
</div>
Basically when I for each click on a different div, a different value will be passed to the JavaScript function.
My Question is how can I keep track of the value passed in the previous click?
For example, I click "button 1", and "value 1" will be passed to the function. Later, I click on "button 2", I want to be able to know whether I have clicked "button 1" before and get "value 1".

Just add it to a variable in your script:
var lastClicked;
var myClick = function(value) {
lastClicked = value;
};

You can define somekind of variable, like var lastUsed;
add additional line to your function:
var lastUsed = null;
function myClick(value){
prevClicked = lastUsed; //get the last saved value
...
lastUsed = value; //update the saved value to the new value
...
}
And here you go

You need a variable. Variables are like little boxes in which you can store values. In this case, we can store the value that was last passed to the function myClick.
In Javascript, you can define a variable like this:
var lastClickedValue;
You can "put" a value into that variable. Let's say you want to put your name in there. You would do this:
lastClickedValue = 'sams5817';
Now here's the tricky bit. Variables have "scope". You might want to think about it as their "life-time". When a variable reaches the end of its scope, you cannot read or write to it anymore. It's as if it's never been. Functions define a scope. So any variable you define in a function will disappear at the end of the function. For example:
function myClick(value)
{
var lastClickedValue;
alert('lastClickedValue is = ' + value);
lastClickedValue = value;
}
That looks almost right, doesn't it? We declared a variable, display its last value, and update it with the new value.
However, since the lastClickedValue was declared in the function myClick, once we've reached the end of that function, it's gone. So the next time we call myClick, lastClickedValue will be create all over again. It will be empty. We call that an "uninitialized" variable.
So what's the problem? We're trying to remember a value even after the end of myClick. But we declared lastClickedValue inside myClick, so it stops existing at the end of myClick.
The solution is to make sure that lastClickedValue continues to exist after myClick is done.
So we must delcare lastClickedValue in a different scope. Luckily, there's a larger scope called the "global scope". It exists from the moment your page loads, and until the user moves on to another webpage. So let's do it this way:
var lastClickedValue;
function myClick(value)
{
alert('lastClickedValue is = ' + value);
lastClickedValue = value;
}
It's a very small difference. We moved the declaration of the variable lastClickedValue to be outside the function myClick. Since it's outside, it will keep existing after myClick is done. Which means that each time we call myClick, then lastClickedValue will still be there.
This will let you know what the last value passed to myClick was.
Finally, I'd like to advise you to look for some kind of Javascript tutorials. I wish I knew of some good ones to recommend, but I'm certain you can find a few on the Internet. If you try to write programs before understanding what you're doing, you'll find yourself producing work that is less than what you're capable of. Good luck!

I suppose you need something like this
var clickedButtons = [];
function myClick(value){
...
clickedButtons.push(value);
...
}

I am surprised that no one else mentioned this, but since functions are first class objects in JavaScript, you can also assign attributes and methods to functions. So in order to remember a value between function calls you can do something like I have with this function here:
function toggleHelpDialog() {
if (typeof toggleHelpDialog.status === 'undefined')
toggleHelpDialog.status = true;
else
toggleHelpDialog.status = !toggleHelpDialog.status;
var layer = this.getLayer();
if (toggleHelpDialog.status) layer.add(helpDialog);
else helpDialog.remove();
layer.draw();
}
Here I have added an attribute named 'status' to the toggleHelpDialog function. This value is associated with the function itself and has the same scope as the toggleHelpDialog function. Values stored in the status attribute will persist over multiple calls to the function. Careful though, as it can be accessed by other code and inadvertently changed.

we can leverage javascript static variables
One interesting aspect of the nature of functions as objects is that you can create static
variables. A static variable is a variable in a function‘s local scope whose value persists across
function invocations. Creating a static variable in JavaScript is achieved by adding an instance
property to the function in question. For example, consider the code here that defines a function
doSum that adds two numbers and keeps a running sum:
function doSum(x,y){
if (typeof doSum.static==='undefined'){
doSum.static = x+y;
}else{
doSum.static += x+y;
}
if (doSum.static >= 100){doSum.static = 0;doSum.static += x+y;}
return doSum.static;
}
alert(doSum(5,15))
alert(doSum(10,10))
alert(doSum(10,30))
alert(doSum(20,30))