[SOLVED] Syntax explanation

[xtopolis]

What is happening in the "name = { 'for..." statement?

 

What is happening here in the return statement?

 

 

function attr( elem, name, value ){
  if( !name || name.constructor != String ) return '';
  
  name = { 'for': 'htmlFor', 'class': 'className' }[name] || name;
  
  if( typeof value != 'undefined' ) {
    elem[name] = value;
    
    if( elem.setAttribute ){
      elem.setAttribute(name,value);
    }
  }
  
  return elem[name] || elem.getAttribute(name) || '';//here
}

 

A detailed explanation would be helpful, thanks.

[JasonLewis]

It's simply a JavaScript Object. I'm not sure what the [name] || name is for though.

 

But you declare objects in JavaScript like so:

 

var myObject = {
foo: 'bar', //A property
init: function(){ //A method
	alert(this.foo);
}
};
myObject.init();

 

[xtopolis]

Oh, duh, I should have realized it was an object just with different formatting. >.< thanks

 

As for the  expression || expression;.. I'm assuming it's casting to whichever is true, or the last expression if false, but I'm not certain.

[JasonLewis]

Yeah I don't no exactly. It just looks weird and out of place. Oh well, if its working then it should be fine.

[xtopolis]

Oh well, if its working then it should be fine.

Ha, not good enough for me >.< I need to know what it is, and why ~.~  Perhaps Nightslyr will stumble upon this topic and if he/she is not angry at me, enlighten me.

 

Thanks for the help thus far.