_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, for instance, _global.variableName. Failure to do so creates 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.

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);
 }
}
// Note: factorial 4 == 4*3*2*1 == 24
trace(factorial(4)); // output: 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 = "global";
trace("_global.myVar: " + _global.myVar); // _global.myVar: global
trace("myVar: " + myVar); // myVar: global

myVar = "local";
trace("_global.myVar: " + _global.myVar); // _global.myVar: global
trace("myVar: " + myVar); // myVar: local

See also

set variable statement