Recursive function that generates the permutations of a string

I am looking for a review of my recursive function that generates the permutations of a string. Are there better ways to do this?

var permutations = [];

function doPerm(str, arr) {
    if (typeof (str) == 'string') str = str.split('');
    if (str.length == 0) permutations.push(arr.join(''));
    for (var i = 0; i < str.length; i++) {
        var x = str.splice(i, 1);
        arr.push(x);
        doPerm(str, arr);
        arr.pop();
        str.splice(i, 0, x);
    }
}
doPerm('', []);
console.log(permutations);

I modified your code after getting the error message: "too much recursion" for string of about 6 characters or so."

//====================================================
function getPermutations(str){
    //Enclosed data to be used by the internal recursive function permutate():
    var permutations = [],  //generated permutations stored here
        nextWord = [],      //next word builds up in here     
        chars = []          //collection for each recursion level
    ;
    //---------------------
    //split words or numbers into an array of characters
    if (typeof str === 'string') chars = str.split(''); 
    else if (typeof str === 'number') {
      str = str + ""; //convert number to string
      chars = str.split('');//convert string into char array
    }
    //============TWO Declaratives========
    permutate(chars);
    return permutations;
    //===========UNDER THE HOOD===========
    function permutate(chars){ //recursive: generates the permutations
        if(chars.length === 0)permutations.push(nextWord.join(''));            
        for (var i=0; i < chars.length; i++){
            chars.push(chars.shift());  //rotate the characters
            nextWord.push(chars[0]);    //use the first char in the array            
            permutate(chars.slice(1));  //Recurse: array-less-one-char
            nextWord.pop();             //clear for nextWord (multiple pops)
        }
    }
    //--------------------------------
}//==============END of getPermutations(str)=============

Some of the names are long, but descriptive.

Features:

• No longer get the "too much recursion" message.

• Only one argument is passed to the function.

• Takes a string or a number argument.

• Variables are not global but enclosed in the outer function.

• The inner function does the recursion using closure variables

• Doesn't use splice, but uses slice only once.

Anything else you can add of value or take away would be appreciated.

StackExchange Code Review Q#59615, answer score: 5