How can i make this little function "imageExists" return wether the ajax request was successful or not?

function imageExists(path){
    $.ajax({
        url: path,
        type: 'HEAD',
        error:
            function(){
                return false;
            },
        success:
            function(){
                return true;
            }
    }); 
}

How can i make this little function "imageExists" return wether the ajax request was successful or not?

function imageExists(path){
    $.ajax({
        url: path,
        type: 'HEAD',
        error:
            function(){
                return false;
            },
        success:
            function(){
                return true;
            }
    }); 
}

• javascript
• ajax
• callback
• return

Share Improve this question Follow edited Apr 12, 2013 at 14:02 franzlorenzon 5,94366 gold badges3737 silver badges5858 bronze badges asked Mar 30, 2011 at 22:32 haemsehaemse 4,29366 gold badges3131 silver badges4242 bronze badges

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3 Answers 3

Sorted by: Reset to default 4

You're going to be returning the result of the AJAX call either in the success function or in the error function, so whatever function should be called next should be called from that point.

Because an AJAX request is asynchronous (I'd advise not making it a blocking synchronous call), you make the request but don't know when it will return; it'll call you when it returns, so you just need to provide it something to call.

function imageExists(path){
    $.ajax({
        url: path,
        type: 'HEAD',
        error:
            function(){
                iveReturned(false);
            },
        success:
            function(){
                iveReturned(true);
            }
    });   
}

function iveReturned(result) {
    // code here to do something following AJAX response.
}

I believe you'll have to use synchronous mode and use a separate a variable for storing the return value.

function imageExists(path){
    var isSuccess;
    $.ajax({
        url: path,
        type: 'HEAD',
        async: false,
        error:
            function(){
                isSuccess = false;
                return false;
            },
        success:
            function(){
                isSuccess = true;
                return true;
            }
    });
    return isSuccess;
}

Create a var to hold the response on a global level, then set async to false. You need to then set that var in the success or error function.

http://api.jquery./jQuery.ajax/

function imageExists(path){
myVar = null;
$.ajax({
    url: path,
    type: 'HEAD',
    error:
        function(){
            myVar = false;
        },
    success:
        function(){
            myVar = true;
        },
    async: false
}); 
}