How to pass 'this' into a setTimeout callback

Question

css

.item {
  display: none;
}

html

<div>
  <div class="item">machin</div>
  <div class="item">chose</div>
  <div class="item">chouette</div>
  <div class="item">prout</div>
</div>

I'm using jQuery and I'd like to make each .item appearing after a random little timer like:

javascript

$('.item').each(function () {
  itm = $(this);
  setTimeout(function () {
    itm.fadeIn(1000);
  }, Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000));
})

Here itm will always contain the last item because the function is evaluated after all assignments.
I can't use the 3rd parameter of setTimeout() because it will not work on IE.
It's not advised to use setTimeout() with the eval method for security reasons.

So how can I access to my object through setTimeout() ?

---

Edit

I know that this question have already been posted.
But I though that it were slightly specific with the each() context.
Now someone have entirely changed the title of my question that was originally something like 'setTimeout() - jQuery.each() this object parameter'

Answer 1

Do not use setTimeout, use jQuery own tools.

$('.item').each(function () {
   $(this).delay(Math.random() * 1000).fadeIn();
})

http://api.jquery.com/delay/

Working example: http://jsfiddle.net/qENhd/

Answer 2

Create/Utilize a closure:

$('.item').each(function () {
  var that = this;

  setTimeout(function () {
    $(that).fadeIn(1000);
  }, Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000));
})

http://jibbering.com/faq/notes/closures/

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript/Guide/Closures

Answer 3

Before setTimeout executes each loop would have finished executing, it will not wait. Also inside setTimeout function this will not refer to the DOM element.

Try something like this.

function fadeItem(item){
   item.fadeIn(1000);
}

$('.item').each(function () {
  var $item = $(this);
  setTimeout(function () {
    fadeItem($item);
  }, Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000));
});

You can also try something like this.

var $items = $('.item'), count = 0;

function fadeItem(item){
   item.fadeIn(1000);
    if(count < $items.length){
       setTimeout(function(){
            fadeItem($items.eq(count++));
       }, Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000));
    }
}
setTimeout(function(){
    fadeItem($items.eq(count++));
}, Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000));