evaluating a object string

var x = eval("{ 'flag' : 1 }");
alert(x);
alert(x.flag);

why doesn't the above work?

On Mar 6, 12:17*pm, jman wrote:Because the - eval - method treats its string input as a javascript
program and a javascript program commencing with an opening brace is a
program that starts with a block statement. That makes the content of
the block statement a syntax error.

If you want to have your string interpreted as an object literal you
have to force it into a context were it must be interpreted as an
expression. Putting parenthesis around it will achieve that end.

Henry a écrit :can you give the code ?
I didn't understand where to put these parenthesis

On Mar 6, 1:07*pm, SAM wrote:
<snip>var x = eval("({ 'flag' : 1 })");

- or:-

var x = eval("("+"{ 'flag' : 1 }"+")");

Henry a écrit :Thought having tried that ... ? !

Thanks
now it rests to understand how that works :-)

Perhaps there is a way to see step to step how 'eval' treats the string.