I know its pretty basic but I just can't get it to work. it keeps throwing "Object Expected" error...

 $(document).ready(function(){   
    setTimeout('showMessage()', 1000); 

    function showMessage() { 
        alert('abc');
    } 
    });

I know its pretty basic but I just can't get it to work. it keeps throwing "Object Expected" error...

 $(document).ready(function(){   
    setTimeout('showMessage()', 1000); 

    function showMessage() { 
        alert('abc');
    } 
    });

• javascript
• jquery
• settimeout

Share Improve this question Follow edited Oct 12, 2009 at 16:14 Christoph 170k3636 gold badges186186 silver badges241241 bronze badges asked Oct 12, 2009 at 15:53 manraj82manraj82 6,3352525 gold badges5858 silver badges8585 bronze badges

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4 Answers 4

Sorted by: Reset to default 8

You've got a scoping problem: showMessage() is only visible withing the anonymous function, but when the parameter to setTimeout() gets evaluated, the runtime already left the scope.

Use the function directly as argument to setTimeout() and get rid of the evil[TM] string evaluation:

setTimeout(showMessage, 1000); 

The setTimeout method is best used with a function, not a string. Therefore, the best way to do this would be like this:

$(document).ready(function() {
    setTimeout(showMessage, 1000);
});

function showMessage() { 
    alert('abc');
}

The problem is that the showMessage function is declared within the ready event and setTimeout("showMessage()", 1000) will look for it in the global scope. You can move its declaration to a global scope, e.g. out of ready event, or use the SLaks answer: setTimeout(showMessage, 1000)

You have wrapped your function in quotes, so it treats it like a string, not as the object it's expecting, so, like SLaks said:

 $(document).ready(function(){   
    setTimeout(showMessage, 1000); 

    function showMessage() { 
        alert('abc');
    } 
    });