node.js - Get variable out of anonymous javascript function -

i'm using anonymous function perform work on html using restler's get function:

var some_function() {     var outer_var;     rest.get(url).on('complete', function(result, response) {         if (result instanceof error) {             sys.puts('error: ' + result.message);         } else {             var inner_var;             // stuff on **result** build **inner_var**             outer_var = inner_var;         }     });     return outer_var; } 

how can value of inner_var out some_function scope , return it? have written here doesn't work.

the call asynchronous, take time , call callback later. however, after calling get, script keeps executing , goes next instruction. here happens:

• you call get
• you return outer_var (which still undefined) ... later ...
• get result has arrived , callback called.
• outer_var set

you can't have some_function return value asynchronous, have use callback instead , let code call once data processed.

var some_function(callback) {     rest.get(url).on('complete', function(result, response) {         if (result instanceof error) {             sys.puts('error: ' + result.message);         } else {             var inner_var;             // stuff on **result** build **inner_var**             callback(inner_var);         }     }); }