_global property

_global.identifier

A reference to the global object that holds the core ActionScript classes, such as String, Object, Math, and Array. For example, you could create a library that is exposed as a global ActionScript object, similar to the Math or Date object. Unlike Timeline-declared or locally declared variables and functions, global variables and functions are visible to every Timeline and scope in the SWF file, provided they are not obscured by identifiers with the same names in inner scopes.

Note: When setting the value of a global variable, you must use the fully qualified name of the variable, e.g. _global.variableName. Failure to do so will create a local variable of the same name that obscures the global variable you are attempting to set.

ReturnsA reference to the global object that holds the core ActionScript classes, such as String, Object, Math, and Array.

Availability: ActionScript 1.0; Flash Player 6

Example

The following example creates a top-level function, factorial(), that is available to every Timeline and scope in a SWF file:

_global.factorial = function(n:Number) {
 if(n <= 1) {
 return 1;
 } 
 else {
 return n * factorial(n - 1);
 }
}

trace(factorial(1)); // 1
trace(factorial(2)); // 2
trace(factorial(3)); // 6
trace(factorial(4)); // 24

The following example shows how the failure to use the fully qualified variable name when setting the value of a global variable leads to unexpected results:

_global.myVar = "globalVariable";
trace(_global.myVar); // globalVariable
trace(myVar); // globalVariable

myVar = "localVariable";
trace(_global.myVar); // globalVariable
trace(myVar); // localVariable

_global property

Example

See also