How to stop script with false?

Question

<input type="text" id="text">
<span id="click">click</span>


$("#click").click(function(){

    if($("#text").val().length < 1){
       alert("click is empty!");
       false;
    }

    alert("ok");
})

LIVE: http://jsfiddle.net/2Be8a/

Why in this example if $click length == 0 i have alert click is empty (this is good) and next alert ok (not good) - why false doesnt stop script? I know - i can use else, but is possible stop with false?

Answer 1

You need to use the key word return to exit the function.

$("#click").click(function(){

    if($("#text").val().length < 1){
       alert("click is empty!");
       return false; //Exits the function
    }

    //This will not execute if ($("#text").val().length < 1) == true
    alert("ok");
});

Additional Information

• You may also want to check out the MDN docs on return.

• As suggested in the comments, it would be "best" to add an else that returns true. Example:

  $("#click").click(function(){
  
     if($("#text").val().length < 1){
         alert("click is empty!");
         return false; //Exits the function
      }
      else {
          alert("ok");
          return true; //Exits the function
      }
  });
  

Essentially, in a jQuery handler, return true is the same as returning nothing (jQuery will take no action). return false is the equivalent of event.stopPropagation().

I suggest reading jQuery Events: Stop (Mis)Using Return False to gain a better understanding of what's really going on when you use return false.

Answer 2

You want to return false;:

$("#click").click(function(){

    if($("#text").val().length < 1){
       alert("click is empty!");
       return false;
    }

    alert("ok");
});