javascript - Variable scope or return issue (not sure which) -

using script below i'm attempting create object called temptagarray gets populated tags on tumblr weblog , frequency. should end looking this:

{'performance': 10, 'installation': 5} 

i know object being created , looks correct (i can print out in each loop) can't figure out how use after/outside function i.e. @ bottom of script attempt document.write() out. global/local variable issue, return issue or need address in way?

<script type="text/javascript">  var temptagarray = {}; var tags; var tag;              function loadposts () {      var key = "api_key=9i4rzayqcbu1o5tsmzuyrlvxiqsnxkbiccjxnk5okz6g9pgdim";     var api = "https://api.tumblr.com/v2/blog/garrettlynch.tumblr.com/";      var retrieve_more = function (offset) {         $.getjson(api + "posts?callback=?&filter=image&limit=20&offset=" + offset + "&" + key,function(data) {               //for each item (post) in response             $.each(data.response.posts, function(i, item) {                  //pull out posts tags                 tags = item['tags'];                  //loop through tags                 (i = 0; < tags.length; i++)                 {                     tag = tags[i];                      //if tag exists in tag array                     if (temptagarray[tag])                     {                         temptagarray[tag] = temptagarray[tag] + 1;                     }                     else                     {                         temptagarray[tag] = 1;                     }                 }              });              if (data.response.posts.length == 20) {                 retrieve_more(offset + 20);             }          });      };      retrieve_more(0);   }  loadposts();  document.write(json.stringify(temptagarray));  </script> 

thanks in advance garrett

replace this:

if (data.response.posts.length == 20) {     retrieve_more(offset + 20); } 

...with this:

if (data.response.posts.length == 20) {     retrieve_more(offset + 20); } else {     document.write(json.stringify(temptagarray)); } 

the problem you're having that, despite document.write(...) command being located below ajax call in code, ajax call asynchronous , callback invoked asynchronously well. basically, document.write(...) being invoked long before you've had chance interact temptagarray variable in ajax callback.