Javascript: how to remove second level array by top level index?

Question

I have a nested array in javascript. The top level has a numerical index, the second level arrays contains various data. I want to be able to remove an element from the array using the top level index.

    var my_array = [];

    my_array[12] = ['cheese', 'egg', 'ham'];
    my_array[24] = ['balloon', 'frog'];
    my_array[33] = ['chicken', 'goose'];

How do I delete my_array[24]? I have tried using splice with $.inArray but inArray returned the index as -1. I don't want to use indexOf because of it's browser limitations - also I think it will give me the same problem as inArray.

Thanks!

Your explanation is awkward to me...could you just show exactly the array you have and the array you need? — m59
– m59, Commented Nov 17, 2013 at 18:26
@adeneo delete won't affect the length. But, the property/index will be removed/undefined. — Jonathan Lonowski
– Jonathan Lonowski, Commented Nov 17, 2013 at 18:33
@JonathanLonowski - in this particular case the length will be 34, as that's how many indices there really are. — adeneo
– adeneo, Commented Nov 17, 2013 at 18:37

Yatrix · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-17 18:34:06Z

1

my_array.splice(24, 1); will remove the item at index = 24.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array/splice

edited Nov 17, 2013 at 18:34

answered Nov 17, 2013 at 18:32

Yatrix

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adeneo · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-17 18:32:27Z

1

Create a function:

function deleteByIndex(arr, index) {
    var new_arr = [];
    for (var i=0; i<arr.length; i++) {
        if (arr[i] && i!=index) {
            new_arr[i] = arr[i];
        }
    }
    return new_arr;
}

FIDDLE

call it like var new_array = deleteByIndex(my_array, 24);

answered Nov 17, 2013 at 18:32

adeneo

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1 Comment

David Healey Over a year ago

Your method works, but is more complicated than the one I have marked as the correct answer.

charlietfl · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-17 18:39:24Z

1

If want to remove frog from main array index 24 by it's known index of 1

myArray[24].splice(1,1);

If want to search for frog anywhere and remove parent.

var term='frog';
my_array=$.grep(my_array,function(element,i){
     return $.inArray( term, element) !=-1;
}

edited Nov 17, 2013 at 18:39

answered Nov 17, 2013 at 18:31

charlietfl

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