Javascript Arrays « »

Contents

• The Rule
• Array Literals
• Length
• Delete
• Enumeration
• Checking if is Array
• Methods
  • array methods

An array is a linear allocation of memory in which elements are accessed by integers that are used to compute offsets.

JavaScript provides an object that has some array-like characteristics. Arrays in javascript are significantly slower than a real array. They inherit from Array.prototype and have a larger set of useful methods and the length property.

Javascript allows an array to contain a mixture of values.

The Rule

When the property names are small sequential integers, you should use an array. Otherwise, use an object.

Array Literals

var empty = [];

var numbers = [
        'zero','one','two','three'
];

empty[1]; //undefined
numbers[1]; //'one'

empty.length; //0
numbers.length; //10

Length

var myArray = [];
myArray.length; //0

myArray[1000000] = true;
myArray.length // 1000001

The length can be set explicitly. Making the length larger does not allocate more space for the array. Making the length smaller will cause all properties with a subscript that is greater than or equal to the new length to be deleted.

var numbers = ['one','two']

numbers[numbers.length] = 'new'; // 'one','two','new'
//or
numbers.push('another'); //'one','two','new','another'

Delete

//delete 1 element from position 2
var numbers = [1,2,3,4];
numbers.splice(2,1); // 1,2,4

numbers.length = 2; //1,2

Enumeration

var i;
for (i = 0; i < myArray.length; i += 1) {
        document.writeln(myArray[i]);
}

Checking if is Array

In the same window or frame.

var is_array = function (value) {
        //we check if it's falsy because typeof null give us 'object'
        return value && 
        typeof value === 'object' &&
        value.constructor === Array;
};

In a different window or same.

var is_array = function (value) {
        return value &&
        typeof value === 'object' &&
        typeof value.length === 'number' &&
        typeof value.splice === 'function' &&
        !(value.propertyIsEnumerable('length'));
};

Methods

We can augment the type (Array.method) or add the methods directly to an individual array.

array methods

• array.concat(item…)
• array.join(separator)
• array.pop()
• array.push(item…)
• array.reverse()
• array.shift()
• array.slice(start,end)
• array.sort(comparefn)
• array.splice(start,deleteCount,item…)
• array.unshift(item…)