Dynamically load a JavaScript file

Question

How can you reliably and dynamically load a JavaScript file? This will can be used to implement a module or component that when \'initialized\' the component will dynamical

Answer 1

If you want a SYNC script loading, you need to add script text directly to HTML HEAD tag. Adding it as will trigger an ASYNC load. To load script text from external file synchronously, use XHR. Below a quick sample (it is using parts of other answers in this and other posts):

/*sample requires an additional method for array prototype:*/

if (Array.prototype.contains === undefined) {
Array.prototype.contains = function (obj) {
    var i = this.length;
    while (i--) { if (this[i] === obj) return true; }
    return false;
};
};

/*define object that will wrap our logic*/
var ScriptLoader = {
LoadedFiles: [],

LoadFile: function (url) {
    var self = this;
    if (this.LoadedFiles.contains(url)) return;

    var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
    xhr.onload = function () {
        if (xhr.readyState === 4) {
            if (xhr.status === 200) {
                self.LoadedFiles.push(url);
                self.AddScript(xhr.responseText);
            } else {
                if (console) console.error(xhr.statusText);
            }
        }
    };
    xhr.open("GET", url, false);/*last parameter defines if call is async or not*/
    xhr.send(null);
},

AddScript: function (code) {
    var oNew = document.createElement("script");
    oNew.type = "text/javascript";
    oNew.textContent = code;
    document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(oNew);
}
};

/*Load script file. ScriptLoader will check if you try to load a file that has already been loaded (this check might be better, but I'm lazy).*/

ScriptLoader.LoadFile("Scripts/jquery-2.0.1.min.js");
ScriptLoader.LoadFile("Scripts/jquery-2.0.1.min.js");
/*this will be executed right after upper lines. It requires jquery to execute. It requires a HTML input with id "tb1"*/
$(function () { alert($('#tb1').val()); });