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Ritik Rana
Ritik Rana

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Must to know Array Methods in Javascript

Array are mostly used in web development and most of the task on web
need Array along with its methods. In JavaScript, arrays have many predefined methods in its _proto_.So lets discuss some commonly used array methods along with their purpose.

1. Array.find()

The find() method takes a callback function which executes on each element in array taking three argument i.e. element, index, array
and returns the value of the first element in the provided array.


function greater_than_20(item){
    return item > 20;
}
const all_numbers = [2,4,5,7,20,23,15,9];
const found = all_numbers.find(greater_than_20);
console.log(found);
//23

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or you can do it like this: using arrow function.


const all_numbers = [2,4,5,7,20,23,15,9];
const found = all_numbers.find(item => item > 20);
console.log(found);
//23

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and if you want to use all three argument that is possible than:


function greater_than_20(item,index,array){
     if(item>20 && index>4){
         console.log(item +" "+ index + " "+ array[index]);    
        }
    }
const all_numbers = [2,21,5,7,20,23,15,9];
const found = all_numbers.find(greater_than_20);
//23 5 23
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2. Array.filter()

The filter() method takes each element of array and check the condition provided in callback function and creates a new array of those
elements that satisfies the condition. If no element satisfies then a empty array is returned.
Lets see the code :


const people_age = [12,8,10,19,20,5,25,36]
function people_above_18(age) {
    return age > 18; 
}
const people_18 = people_age.filter(people_above_18);
console.log(people_age);
console.log(people_18);

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or you can do it like this: using arrow function.


const people_age = [12,8,10,19,20,5,25,36]
const people_18 = people_age.filter(age=>age>18);
console.log(people_age);
console.log(people_18);
//[12, 8, 10, 19, 20, 5, 25, 36]
//[19, 20, 25, 36]

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It also accepts optional parameters like index, array.

3. Array.forEach()

The forEach() method just runs a function for each element of array. It does not return anything i.e. undefined.
It is same like for loop.


const arr = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
arr.forEach(element => console.log(element));
//a
//b
//c

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4. Array.map()

The map() method runs a function for each element of array just like forEach() method but it also creates a new array of result, of each element.


const number = [1,2,3,4,5,6]
function inc_by_5(element){
    return element + 5;
}
const number_incremented_by_5 = number.map(inc_by_5);
console.log(number_incremented_by_5);
//[6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]

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or you can do it like this: using arrow function.


const number = [1,2,3,4,5,6]
const number_incremented_by_5 = number.map(element=>element+5);
console.log(number_incremented_by_5);
//[6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]

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5. Array.reduce()

The reduce() method executes a reducer function on a provided array elements and returns a single output value.
A reducer function is a special one. It uses two arguments accumulator and currentValue. The result of each iteration is stored in
accumulator.
Lets see an example :


const marks = [50,60,75,80,40];
function reducer(accumulator , currentValue) {
  return accumulator + currentValue;
}
const total_marks = marks.reduce(reducer);
console.log(total_marks);
//305

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In the first iteration 'accumulator' holds value of first element in array.
We can also assign it directly to some value by passing along with reducer.


const marks = [50,60,75,80,40];
function reducer(accumulator , currentValue) {
  return accumulator + currentValue;
}
const total_marks = marks.reduce(reducer,-305);
console.log(total_marks);
//0

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6. Array.sort()

The sort method sorts the elements of the provided array. By default it sorts in ascending order.


const debts= [5500,2500,1365,5000,7584,45,745];
debts.sort();
console.log(debts);
//[45,745,1365,2500,5000,5500,7584]

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We can change the sort order according to our use by passing a callback funtion.
Lets sort the "debts" array in descending order.


const debts= [5500,2500,1365,5000,7584,45,745];
debts.sort((num1,num2)=>num2-num1);
console.log(debts);
//[7584, 5500, 5000, 2500, 1365, 745, 45]

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7. Array.slice()

The slice methods returns a portion of array into a new array. It takes two parameters as index value - begin and end.
"End index value is not included".


const data = ["ritik","rahul","shubham","ashish","gaurav","piyush"]
const partOfData = data.slice(2,5);
console.log(partOfData);
//["shubham", "ashish", "gaurav"]

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What is forget or give large value to end index i.e


const data = ["ritik","rahul","shubham","ashish","gaurav","piyush"]
const partOfData = data.slice(2);
console.log(partOfData);
//["shubham", "ashish", "gaurav", "piyush"]
const partOfData2 = data.slice(2,5);
console.log(partOfData2);
//["shubham","ashish","gaurav"] 

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It checks data.length property if end index is missing or greater than length of array.

8. Array.splice()

The splice method is used to alter the array. It helps in deleting or adding items inside a array at
any particular position. It returns the array with deleted items.
It takes 3 parameter starting index , delete count from that index , and if something to add after that index.


const alpha = ["a","b","c","d","e"];
alpha.splice(2,1);
//goes to index 2 and deletes 1 element
console.log(alpha);
// ["a", "b", "d", "e"]
alpha.splice(2,0,"c")
//goes to index 2 and deletes nothing and adds "c"
console.log(alpha)
//["a", "b", "c", "d", "e"]
alpha.splice(0);
//deletes full array as starting index is 0 and by default delete count it takes arr.length
console.log(alpha);
//[]

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Thats all. You can also read this at ritikrana.netlify.com

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