function go() { var userId = prompt('Username?', 'Guest'); checkIfUserExists(userId); } var USERS_LOCATION = 'https://SampleChat.firebaseIO-demo.com/users'; function userExistsCallback(userId, exists) { if (exists) { alert('user ' + userId + ' exists!'); } else { alert('user ' + userId + ' does not exist!'); } } // Tests to see if /users/ has any data. function checkIfUserExists(userId) { var usersRef = new Firebase(USERS_LOCATION); usersRef.child(userId).once('value', function(snapshot) { var exists = (snapshot.val() !== null); userExistsCallback(userId, exists); }); }