Run a string as lua code to call a function with only the function name

Question

I am making a dynamic callback table for a helper function that handles input events. I want to make a(testString) execute when functionTable[1](testString) executes or allow a way for it to be run directly from a string.

functionTable = {}
testString = "atad atad atad"

function a(param)
    print(param)
end

functionTable[1] = "a"

exec(functionTable[1].."(testString)")

How should I be doing this?

(for Lua 5.1)

Answer 1

you can use the load() function to execute strings:

functionTable = {}
testString = "atad atad atad"

function a(param)
    print("hello " .. param)
end

functionTable[1] = "a"

load(functionTable[1].."(testString)")()