Develop Reference

pushing into an array inside an object using function it's returning Number instead of the value of pushed array [duplicate]

Are there any substantial reasons why modifying Array.push() to return the object pushed rather than the length of the new array might be a bad idea?
I don't know if this has already been proposed or asked before; Google searches returned only a myriad number of questions related to the current functionality of Array.push().
Here's an example implementation of this functionality, feel free to correct it:
;(function() {
var _push = Array.prototype.push;
Array.prototype.push = function() {
return this[_push.apply(this, arguments) - 1];
}
}());
You would then be able to do something like this:
var someArray = [],
value = "hello world";
function someFunction(value, obj) {
obj["someKey"] = value;
}
someFunction(value, someArray.push({}));
Where someFunction modifies the object passed in as the second parameter, for example. Now the contents of someArray are [{"someKey": "hello world"}].
Are there any drawbacks to this approach?

See my detailed answer here
TLDR;
You can get the return value of the mutated array, when you instead add an element using array.concat[].
concat is a way of "adding" or "joining" two arrays together. The awesome thing about this method, is that it has a return value of the resultant array, so it can be chained.
newArray = oldArray.concat[newItem];
This also allows you to chain functions together
updatedArray = oldArray.filter((item) => {
item.id !== updatedItem.id).concat[updatedItem]};
Where item = {id: someID, value: someUpdatedValue}
The main thing to notice is, that you need to pass an array to concat.
So make sure that you put your value to be "pushed" inside a couple of square brackets, and you're good to go.
This will give you the functionality you expected from push()
You can use the + operator to "add" two arrays together, or by passing the arrays to join as parameters to concat().
let arrayAB = arrayA + arrayB;
let arrayCD = concat(arrayC, arrayD);
Note that by using the concat method, you can take advantage of "chaining" commands before and after concat.

Are there any substantial reasons why modifying Array.push() to return the object pushed rather than the length of the new array might be a bad idea?
Of course there is one: Other code will expect Array::push to behave as defined in the specification, i.e. to return the new length. And other developers will find your code incomprehensible if you did redefine builtin functions to behave unexpectedly.
At least choose a different name for the method.
You would then be able to do something like this: someFunction(value, someArray.push({}));
Uh, what? Yeah, my second point already strikes :-)
However, even if you didn't use push this does not get across what you want to do. The composition that you should express is "add an object which consist of a key and a value to an array". With a more functional style, let someFunction return this object, and you can write
var someArray = [],
value = "hello world";
function someFunction(value, obj) {
obj["someKey"] = value;
return obj;
}
someArray.push(someFunction(value, {}));

Just as a historical note -- There was an older version of JavaScript -- JavaScript version 1.2 -- that handled a number of array functions quite differently.
In particular to this question, Array.push did return the item, not the length of the array.
That said, 1.2 has been not been used for decades now -- but some very old references might still refer to this behavior.
http://web.archive.org/web/20010408055419/developer.netscape.com/docs/manuals/communicator/jsguide/js1_2.htm

By the coming of ES6, it is recommended to extend array class in the proper way , then , override push method :
class XArray extends Array {
push() {
super.push(...arguments);
return (arguments.length === 1) ? arguments[0] : arguments;
}
}
//---- Application
let list = [1, 3, 7,5];
list = new XArray(...list);
console.log(
'Push one item : ',list.push(4)
);
console.log(
'Push multi-items :', list.push(-9, 2)
);
console.log(
'Check length :' , list.length
)

Method push() returns the last element added, which makes it very inconvenient when creating short functions/reducers. Also, push() - is a rather archaic stuff in JS. On ahother hand we have spread operator [...] which is faster and does what you needs: it exactly returns an array.
// to concat arrays
const a = [1,2,3];
const b = [...a, 4, 5];
console.log(b) // [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
// to concat and get a length
const arrA = [1,2,3,4,5];
const arrB = [6,7,8];
console.log([0, ...arrA, ...arrB, 9].length); // 10
// to reduce
const arr = ["red", "green", "blue"];
const liArr = arr.reduce( (acc,cur) => [...acc, `<li style='color:${cur}'>${cur}</li>`],[]);
console.log(liArr);
//[ "<li style='color:red'>red</li>",
//"<li style='color:green'>green</li>",
//"<li style='color:blue'>blue</li>" ]

var arr = [];
var element = Math.random();
assert(element === arr[arr.push(element)-1]);

How about doing someArray[someArray.length]={} instead of someArray.push({})? The value of an assignment is the value being assigned.
var someArray = [],
value = "hello world";
function someFunction(value, obj) {
obj["someKey"] = value;
}
someFunction(value, someArray[someArray.length]={});
console.log(someArray)

Cannot get/fetch keys from an array in javascript

I have an array object where there are key value pairs. I am trying to get the keys in that array using a loop but I am getting only 0. What is the problem with my code.
var strj = '{"name":"John","age":"30","cars":
[ {"type":"car", "year":"1998"},
{"type":"van", "year":"1995"}]}';
var myobj = JSON.parse(strj)
var care = myobj.cars.filter(c => c.type=='car');
Value of care
0:{type: "car", year: "1998"}
length:1
__proto__:Array(0)
Loop
for (var key in care){
if(care.hasOwnProperty(key)){
console.log(key)
}
}

care is a array type so you cannot do for (var key in care). You need to do for (var key in care[0]). This is because for (var key in care) will look for the key value in care and since it is a array it will always take 0 as a value in key(as you have only one object in array and its index is 0). That is why you got 0 in console.log.
var care =[{type: "car", year: "1998"}];
for (var key in care[0]){
if(care[0].hasOwnProperty(key)){
console.log(key)
}
}

care.forEach( ( singleCar ) => {
for ( var key in singleCar ){
console.log(key);
if( care.hasOwnProperty( key ) ){
console.log(key);
}
}
})
forEach will give you all the objects one by one. so you can check them.

As others have solved the issue, might i make a suggestion - Object.keys () gives an array of the keys for a given object. Since you are getting your filtered object and simply want its keys - the following will achieve that. Note that this is only using the code after you have filtered the original and have gained the "care" object.
As an aside, note that object.values() will give you an array of the values in a given object and object.entries() will give you arrays of the key / value pairing.
var care = {type: "car", year: "1998"};
var keys = Object.keys(care)
console.log(keys) // gives ["type","year"]

filter() method returns a Array of matches.
var care = myobj.cars.filter(c => c.type=='car'); // So, this returns an array.
care.forEach(element => {
console.log(Object.keys(element)); //Prints keys of each element
});

Well actually there is no problem in your code at all. But you just misunderstood the use of javascript filter. Javascript filter() creates new array that's why you are getting 0 as key. If you want to get only one matching element then find() is what you should use.
var strj = '{"name":"John","age":"30","cars":[{"type":"car", "year":"1998"},{"type":"van", "year":"1995"}]}';
var myobj = JSON.parse(strj)
var care = myobj.cars.filter(c => c.type == 'car'); // returns array
var care = myobj.cars.find(c => c.type == 'car'); // returns first matching object
var care = myobj.cars.findIndex(c => c.type == 'car'); // returns first matching index
Javascript filter() method => Read Here
Javascript find() => Read Here
Javascript findIndex() method => Read Here

Named objects and collection of them

not sure how to ask tbh :)
I'm used of PHP's associative arrays so much that I struggle to understand how to create an "named array" of objects.
Example:
I have two arrays, two ints and one boolean. This represents one of my entities. I have multiple entities on which I'm doing some work.
In PHP I would write:
$entitites[$entitity_id]['items'][] = $item;
$entitites[$entitity_id]['items_status'][] = $item_status;
$entitites[$entitity_id]['items_count']++;
and so on..
How do I do this with objects in JS?
var entities = {items:[], items_status: [], items_count: 0};
entities[entity_id].items.push(item)
How does one name his object for later access (via name or in my case, entity_id?)
This code doesnt work for me to this extend that my webpage goes blank without any errors produced :S
I also tried this:
var entities = {};
var entity = {items:[], items_status: [], items_count: 0};
but then I dont know how to always add values to already existing object in entities object and how to call that exact object via name eg. entity_id.
Halp :(

Keep entities as an object. Then you can just go ahead and add each entity_id as a key and an object which has all the details of that entity as the value.
var entities = {};
entities["1234"] = {
"items" : [],
"items_status" : [],
"items_count" : 0
};

There are 2 types involved here: Objects & Arrays.
Arrays are simple and you're probably familiar with them from any other language:
var myArray = []; // this is an empty array
myArray[0] = 1;
myArray[1] = 2;
myArray[2] = 3;
// you could also use "var myArray = [1, 2, 3];" instead
alert(myArray[1]); // alerts the value 2
Note: arrays are actually objects, and can have non-index properties as well
You can also use various array functions such as .push(), .pop(), .shift() and so on to mutate the array instead.
Objects share the square brackets notation, but the purpose is different:
var myObject = {}; // this is an empty object
myObject[0] = 1;
myObject[1] = 2;
myObject[2] = 3;
alert(myObject[1]); // alerts the value 2
// but also...
myObject['prop'] = 4;
alert(myObject['prop']); // alerts the value 4
// and
myObject.prop2 = 5;
alert(myObject.prop2); // alerts the value 5
// and lastly
alert(myObject.prop); // alerts the value 4
So while arrays are accessed by index, objects are accessed by property names.
As for your entities, it looks like an array of objects. Lets see how we can do that:
function Entity() {
this.items = [];
this.items_status = [];
this.items_count = 0;
}
var entitites = [];
entities.push(new Entity());
entities[0].items = [1, 2, 3];
entities[0].items_status = ['good', 'good', 'poor'];
entities[0].items_count = 3;
Or you can wrap insertion in a more elegant function:
Entity.prototype.insert(item, status) {
this.items.push(item);
this.items_status.push(status);
this.items_count++;
}
entities[0].insert(4, 'excellent!');

If you want to keep control of the indexes in your JS array you can do so by not using .push() :
var entities = [];
entities[5] = {items:[], items_status:[], items_count:0};
Just replace 5 by your integer entity_id variable, and there you go.

You can use a regular javascript object to create the associative array you're looking for.
Actually it's PHP's implementation that's abit off but all they do is call it different (associative array) to most other language that simply refer to it as an object or hash.
You can use numeric keys in JS and still access them with the [] square brackets.
It works like this:
var my_obj = {};
my_obj[5] = 'any value';
console.log(my_obj); // {5: 'any value'}
JS will not add any redundant undefined to missing indexes either so when looping over the collection you won't loop over undefined.
Also, I can access the object by using the key as a string or as number so you won't have to check if the key is the right type. Taken from the above example:
console.log(my_obj['5']); // 'any value'
console.log(my_obj[5]); // 'any value'
JS Objects are the equivelant of PHP assoc arrays except JS objects are much more flexible than PHP's associative arrays.
The only downside to this is that you can't have duplicate keys.
No two keys may exist that share the same name, in an array if you .push(an_item) it will create a new index making even a duplicate data entry unique but when overwriting a key with a new value only the last value will persist, mind that :)

Most efficient and clean way to push a value to an array only if it does not exist yet

Suppose an array named myArray containing several values but no duplicates.
Suppose I want to push a value into it only if it won't lead to duplicates presence.
How I determinate duplicates => by comparing value's id.
I thought about Lodash#uniq to do the trick:
myArray.push(aNewValue);
myArray = _.uniq(myArray,function(item){
return item.id;
});
However, I don't like the reassignment to the array and especially the fact that I have to push before checking...
Is there a more "functional" way to achieve it while being very short?
I don't want to iterate through the array explicitly in order to apply the check.
That's why I attempted to use Lodash.

You can check the presence of an item before adding it :
if(myArray.indexOf(aNewValue) == -1) {
myArray.push(aNewValue);
}

The most efficient way to do this is generally to use an object for uniqueness, because an object can have at most one key of a certain value. However, this is restricted to strings and things that stringify, since only strings can be object keys.
There are two approaches here. If you are using your array often, then you should keep parallel structures - an object for uniqueness check, an array for arrayness of it.
If you don't need your array often, i.e. you want to push a bunch of things and then have an array be unique, you can just use the object, and transform it into an array when you need it (which is somewhat expensive, so you only want to do it once, but still cheaper than manipulating two different structures all the time).
The first approach is illustrated here:
function Set() {
this.presence = {};
this.array = [];
};
Set.prototype.push = function(key, value) {
if (this.presence[key]) return;
this.presence[key] = true;
this.array.push(value);
};
var a = new Set();
a.push(3, { id: 3, value: "SOMETHING" });
a.push(7, { id: 7, value: "SOMETHING ELSE" });
a.push(3, { id: 3, value: "SOMETHING" });
console.log(a.array); // => only 2 elements
The second, here:
function Set() {
this.store = {};
};
Set.prototype.push = function(key, value) {
this.store[key] = value;
};
Set.prototype.array = function() {
var that = this;
return Object.keys(this.store).map(function(key) { return that.store[key]; })
};
...
console.log(a.array()); // note the newly added parentheses :)
Both of these are still cheaper than looking for presence inside the array using indexOf, even more so when you do your own iterating, except very much maybe in case the array is very short.

You could use Array.prototype.some() to find out if the value is already part of the array, e.g.:
if( myArray.some(function (elem) { return elem.id == newValue.id }) )
myArray.push(newValue);
You can't really get away with not looping through the array, though.

Arrays with Objects as Key Values in Javascript

I have the following requirement. I have a pair of integers which is to act as keys and another pair of integers which should act as values. That is:
obj[{key1:12,key2:23}]=[2,3];
obj[{key1:12,key2:22}]=[4,3];
obj[{key1:34,key2:12}]=[4,33];
Also finally when the population of this list is over, I would like to sequentially access the elements of the object/array.
Now it is my understanding that for such arrays which take an object as key, they are known as associative arrays and Javascript doesn't support them..
The following will be the operations I will perform on this structure :
Insertion: I will have keys like (2,3) or (2,4) which I would like to insert into the array with a new keyvalue pair such as [1,2],
Lookup : I may have a key pair like (2,3) which is already inserted into this array and I would like to get it back so that I can modify it.
That is something like:
if(obj[{key1:2,key2:3}])
obj[{key1:2,key2:3}]=[2,5];
else
obj[{key1:2,key2:3}]=[2,-1];
Any suggestions as to how I can implement this in Javascript?
EDIT: These are the two things I tried:
First I made it as an array of objects. This approach didn't work because from looking around, I knew that in such cases, Javascript will call the toString method to get the string equivalent of the object which it will then use an index.
Second, I tried to do an object with object keys containing sub-objects. Something along the lines of this answer: Answer. However I am not sure how to get sequential access to all the elements after I am done with the insertion phase.

You're probably not going to like this much, but it'll at least give you a stable key:
obj[JSON.stringify({key1:12,key2:23})]=[2,3];
So, the big problem is that in an object the 'key' (really, the 'property') must be a string, or be able to be stringified. In your examples, {key1:12,key2:23} will always be stringified to [object Object]. So you'll never get a unique key. The only way to get that unique key is to really serialize it, such as by using the JSON.stringify method.
Note that on IE8 I think you have to include a JSON class.

Here is an object oriented way to do it:
// Constructor
function AssociativeArray() {
this.length = 0;
}
// Add or set value
AssociativeArray.prototype.set = function(key, value) {
key = key.key1+'|'+key.key2;
if(!this[key]) {
this.length++;
}
this[key] = value;
};
// Lookup
AssociativeArray.prototype.get = function(key) {
return this[key.key1+'|'+key.key2];
};
AssociativeArray.prototype.toString = function() {
var k, arr = [];
for(k in this) {
if(this.hasOwnProperty(k) && k !== 'length') {
arr.push(this[k]);
}
}
return arr;
};
// Create Associative Array
var arr = new AssociativeArray();
// empty array
console.log(arr.toString(), 'length='+arr.length); // [] length=0
// add value
arr.set({key1:1, key2:2}, [1,1]);
console.log(arr.toString(), 'length='+arr.length); // [[1,1]] length=1
// add value
arr.set({key1:2, key2:1}, [2,2]);
console.log(arr.toString(), 'length='+arr.length); // [[1,1], [2,2]] length=2
// set value
arr.set({key1:2, key2:1}, [3,3]);
console.log(arr.toString(), 'length='+arr.length); // [[1,1], [3,3]] length=2
// lookup and set
if(arr.get({key1:2, key2:3})) {
arr.set({key1:2, key2:3}, [2,5]);
} else {
arr.set({key1:2, key2:3}, [2,-1]);
}
console.log(arr.toString(), 'length='+arr.length); // [[1, 1], [3, 3], [2, -1]] length=3
Fiddle here: http://jsbin.com/ohOwala/3/edit

You could use a bidimensional array
var arr = [];
arr[2] = [];
arr[2][3] = [1, 2];
Or you could use an object and access the pairs using the object properties names
obj = {
_2_3: [1, 2],
_2_1: [4, 1],
_1_2: [3, 2]
};
and access them like this obj["_2_3"] or this obj._2_3
or maybe you could nest em
obj = {
_1: {
_2: [2,1]
}
};
so you could access them like this obj["_1"]["_2"]
or maybe this
obj = {
1: {
2: [2,1]
}
};
But you will be forced to use associatve array notation obj["1"]["2"]
and as far as i know using the associative array like way for accessing objects properties isnt a good practice

I asked where the objects {key1:2,key3:2} came from because if you have control over it you can implement a toString method for those types that will take care of the Object to string conversion so it can be used as a property name.
//define keypair object type
var MyKeyPair = function(key1,key2){
this.key1=key1;
this.key2=key2;
};
//define tostring for this type
// later obj[aKeyPairInstance] will
// invoke the toString method
// if you don't do this then [Object object]
// would be returned for toString
MyKeyPair.prototype.toString=function(){
//since you know there is only going to be key1 and key2
// you could just:
// return this.key1+":"+this.key2;
//Here follows a more general approach but it'll cost
// you more cpu time, if working with very large amounts
// of data use the shorter version.
var ret=[];
for(thing in this){
if(this.hasOwnProperty(thing)){
ret.push(thing);
ret.push(":");
ret.push(this[thing]);
ret.push(",");
}
}
return ret.join("");
};
// make a bunch of keyPair objects
var keys = [
new MyKeyPair(21,33),
new MyKeyPair(22,34),
new MyKeyPair(23,35),
new MyKeyPair(24,36)
];
//create an object and give it properties
// based on the tostring value of the keypairs
var obj={};
for(var i = 0,len=keys.length;i<len;i++){
obj[keys[i]]=[keys[i].key1,keys[i].key2];
};
console.log(obj);//<=this would not log any usefull info in IE
//Use Chrome, Firefox, Opera or any other browser instead