How to run a randomly selected function in JavaScript?

Question

I'm trying to run a random function but haven't quite figured it out:

<script>

function randomFrom(array) {return array[Math.floor(Math.random() * array.length)];}

function randomchords(){randomFrom(['poop()', 'poop2()', 'poop3()']);}               



function poop() { $(function() {ionian_c_vi() });  }                          

function poop2() {  $(function() {ionian_c_iii() }), $(function() {ionian_c_iv() });  }                      

function poop3() { $(function() {ionian_c_vi() }), $(function() {ionian_c_i() }), $(function() {ionian_c_ii() });  }  

</script>

and then:

<button onclick="randomchords()" >Get some random chords</button>

Am I on the right track?

Answer 1

One option is to use window object:

function randomchords() {
    var func = randomFrom(['poop', 'poop2', 'poop3']);
    window[func]();
}

Pay attention that you should remove parentheses from function names in the array.

---

Another option is to remove quotes from the variant above and call functions directly:

function randomchords() {
    var func = randomFrom([poop, poop2, poop3]);
    (func)();
}

Answer 2

Functions are like values. You could say:

var myArray = [
    function(){
        ionian_c_vi();
    },
    function(){
        ionian_c_iii();
        ionian_c_iv()
    },
    function(){
        ionian_c_vi();
        ionian_c_i();
    }
];
function randomchords(){ 
     randomFrom(myArray).call();
}

For more info, look at http://www.yuiblog.com/blog/2010/02/24/video-crockonjs-3/ and/or read at https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Function/Call

Bookwise, read Javascript: The Good Parts (120 pages)

Helps learn JS outside jQuery :)