Split a String into 2 Variables in javascript

Question

I am wanting to convert a string into 2 variables..

I have created a variable and I am using substring to split it, however I can't seem to get it working.

If I create a alert message it display's the orignal variable that I want split up (so I know there is something there)

My code looks like this:

// variable 'ca' is set from a XML Element Response
alert(ca); // displays a string (eg. 123456789) - which does display fine
alert(ca.substring(0,1));  // should alert 1 but it stops and nothing is displayed

but I add ca = "123456789"; as below, it works..

ca = "123456789";
alert(ca); // displays a string (eg. 123456789) - which does display fine
alert(ca.substring(0,1));  // should alert 1 but it stops and nothing is displayed

however the variable ca has something set and is display right before the substring is used..

anyone know what I might be doing wrong?

If I have to guess maybe you're looking for ca value while ajax call is still running... could you post the relevant code please? — Fabrizio Calderan
– Fabrizio Calderan, Commented Jun 5, 2012 at 7:48
Your xml response might have some spaces at the beginning. Try - alert('>>' + ca.substring(0,1) + '<<' ); — Dandy
– Dandy, Commented Jun 5, 2012 at 7:49

Guffa · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-05 07:47:53Z

2

Your variable doesn't contain a string, it contains something else, probably a number.

Convert the value to a string, to be able to use string methods on it:

ca = ca.toString();

answered Jun 5, 2012 at 7:47

Guffa

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1 Comment

Aaron Over a year ago

You where spot on, it was a number and I needed to convert it to a string. - Your a life saver.

Martijn · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-05 07:55:15Z

1

My guess is that ca doesn't contain a string but a number. Does it work when you cast the variable to a string?

alert(String(ca).substring(0,1));

(Note that you can check what a variable contains with the typeof operator:

console.log(typeof ca);
// number
console.log(typeof String(ca));
// string

UPDATE: both ca.toString() and String(ca) should work, but I personally prefer String(ca) since that will also work if ca is null or undefined.

answered Jun 5, 2012 at 7:55

Martijn

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