function showHelp(help) { document.getElementById('help').innerHTML = help; } function setupHelp() { var helpText = [ {'id': 'email', 'help': 'Your e-mail address'}, {'id': 'name', 'help': 'Your full name'}, {'id': 'age', 'help': 'Your age (you must be over 16)'} ]; for (var i = 0; i < helpText.length; i++) { var item = helpText[i]; document.getElementById(item.id).onfocus = function() { showHelp(item.help); } } } setupHelp();