Array / Function Scoping issue

Question

Hi All,
Can someone confirm this please?
If I declare an array in a function, is that array only available / accessible in the scope of that function?  That is, does it have a local scope to the function only?
I ask because I am unable to access values in the array outside of the defining function.
As an example:
function myFunction () {
     //other code e.g. specifying length of array, etc
for (i=0; i<myArray.length; i++) {
     myArray[i] = currentValue + i;
     //other code
trace (myArray); // undefined is showing up here.
Do I have to do something like this inside the function to make the values available to the root and other functions?
_root.myArrayGlobal = myArray; // inside the function
trace (myArrayGlobal); //this then appears to work outside of the function
I just want to confirm to ensure the only issue I'm having is a scoping one.
If so is this the “best practice” way to do it?
Thank you
Best Regards
Chris

Answer 1

Yes, declaring a variable within a function give it scope only within that function. To remedy your problem just declare it outside the function, not inside (and since you don't show actually declaring it, just in case, always declare using "var").
var myArray = new Array();
function myFunction () {
     //other code e.g. specifying length of array, etc
for (i=0; i<myArray.length; i++) {
     myArray[i] = currentValue + i;
     //other code
trace (myArray); // undefined is showing up here.