How can I set a flag in javascript for a google chrome extension -

i have twitter scanner (a google chrome extension), want execute if statement once. after still want able scan other shoename, flag set keeps getting reset.

here code:

function twitterscan() {      (var = 0; < 4; i++) {         tweetname[i] = document.getelementsbyclassname("fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id")[0].innerhtml;         tweet[i] = document.getelementsbyclassname("js-tweet-text")[i].innerhtml;     }     var flag = true;     var flag1 = true;      //if (document.getelementsbyclassname("fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id")[0].innerhtml;      if (tweet[0].match(shoename) == shoename && flag == true||(tweet[0].match(shoename1) == shoename1 && flag1 == true) {         if(tweet[0].match(shoename) == shoename)              flag = false;         if(tweet[0].match(shoename1) == shoename1)             flag1 = false;         document.getelementsbyclassname("twitter-timeline-link")[0].click();         tfunction = "get outa here";         shoename = " 4444  4 456 7 8 456 7 345 7 345  345 3 1 1 133s "; //buffer jump out of interval loop     }  } 

from twitterscan() called?

have tried moving flag & flag1 outside function?

var flag = true; var flag1 = true; function twitterscan() { ... }