Store AJAX return into variable

Question

I'm having trouble storing an Ajax response into a variable. Here's my code so far:

function bbl(phrase) {
    var lp;
    $.post(
        'babelJS.php',
        {"phrase" : phrase},
        function (data){
            lp = data.lp;
            $("#test1").html(lp);
        },
        'json'
    );
    $("#test2").html(lp);
}

The div test1 is correctly field but not test2... Why wouldn't lp survive after the $.post section?

Thanks!

Update : I would also want bbl() to return lp...

Update 2 :

I have no more luck with the following, which comes from the FAQ whose link is in the first comment to this post.

function getBbl(phrase,callback) {
    $.post(
        'babelJS.php',
        {"phrase" : phrase},
        function (data){
            callback(data.locphrase);
        },
        'json'
    );
}

function bbl(phrase) {
    var lp
    getBbl(phrase,function(locphrase){
        lp = locphrase;
    });
    return lp;
}

So many duplicates, such as How to return javascript variable to Ajax? — T.J. Crowder
– T.J. Crowder, Commented Apr 28, 2012 at 12:36

Ned Batchelder · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-28 12:32:40Z

2

The problem is that the $.post call is asynchronous. The .html() line is executing after the post has been sent, but the lp = data.lp line isn't executed until the post response is returned.

So the assignment is working fine, but it is happening too late. To make it work, move the .html() line into the success function for the post.

answered Apr 28, 2012 at 12:32

Ned Batchelder

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4 Comments

Arnaud Over a year ago

Ok I understand, thanks. What if I want bbl to return lp though?

Ned Batchelder Over a year ago

You can't. You need to start thinking asynchronously, for example, but have bbl take a success callback, that you invoke from the post success callback.

Arnaud Over a year ago

I've just updated my post with a callback version with which I have no more luck.

000 Over a year ago

If you want bbl to return lp, do a Google search for "Promises"

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