62

Is there a Javascript equivalent of the python 'for-else' loop, so something like this:

searched = input("Input: ");
for i in range(5):
    if i==searched:
        print("Search key found: ",i)
        break
else:
    print("Search key not found")

Or do I just have to resort to a flag variable, so something like this:

var search = function(num){
    found = false;
    for(var i in [0,1,2,3,4]){
        if(i===num){
            console.log("Match found: "+ i);
            found = true;
        }
    }
    if(!found){
        console.log("No match found!");
    }
};
5
  • 2
    You need the flag value. Or, in your case, just return after you found a match. Commented Feb 3, 2014 at 10:50
  • 2
    You'll have to use the boolean. There's no for-else Commented Feb 3, 2014 at 10:50
  • Bummer...oh well. Some of the syntax was surprisingly similar to the "simplicity" of python, so I figured it would be worth asking. Commented Feb 3, 2014 at 10:51
  • Yes you will have to implement one with your own code .. there is no for else loop in javascript Commented Feb 3, 2014 at 10:51
  • 1
    Note: var i in [0,1,2,3,4] --> i actually contains the index, rather than the value. They are the same in this case, but not in general. Commented Feb 3, 2014 at 10:52

8 Answers 8

36

Yes, it is possible to do this without a flag variable. You can emulate for … else statements using a label and a block:

function search(num) {
    find: {
        for (var i of [0,1,2,3,4]) {
            if (i===num) {
               console.log("Match found: "+ i);
               break find;
            }
        } // else part after the loop:
        console.log("No match found!");
    }
    // after loop and else
}

That said, I would recommend against doing this. It is a very unconvential way of writing this and will lead to poor understanding or confusion. An early return is acceptable though, and can be used in a helper function if you need to continue with execution after the loop.

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5 Comments

I wonder about typescript equivalent as : is used as type
@Zen3515 Labels work in Typescript as well, it's not interpreted as a type annotation.
Array.some can be helpful in this situation
Most linters warn against this, as it is not a very commonly used feature.
@GarrettMotzner Yes, that's exactly what my answer recommends :-) But still, this would be the way to emulate for-else if you really needed it.
17

Working example (you need to use the flag):

var search = function(num){
    var found = false;
    for(var i=0; i<5; i++){
        if(i===num){
            console.log("Match found: "+ i);
            found = true;
            break;
        }
    }
    if(!found){
        console.log("No match found!");
    }
};

7 Comments

In this example, instead of the for loop, you might as well check num < 5.
@Cerbrus, you are right that should further optimize the function but then we actually don't know what is intended use here .. it might be some search in arrays etc. Anyway nice tip..
Except that this function doesn't search any arrays. The array the OP provided was just some sample data. Don't assume the contents are always the same. If you want to search an array like this: [1,6,3,8,2], your code will not work.
Exactly, but it's easy to change that for(var i..) to for( var i in) .. without going into details.
You can replace the for iterations with a simple if. Yes, the output is what you want, but the way you get this output is BAD. Yes, it works with the provided example array, but ONLY because that array is counting up from 0-5 like your for does. If anything about that array changes, your code won't work.
|
3

There is no built-in JavaScript equivalant.

You can emulate this by using return as a control flow. You can put your for loop in an IIFE and use the return to move beyond conditions afterwards. This does mean that vars don't pollute the scope above with variables.

(function() {  // Or `(() => {` in ES6  // Python equivalent:
  for (/* for loop body*/) {            // for <loop body>:
    if (/* Condition */) {              //     if <Condition>:
      // Met condition                  //         <Met condition>
      return;  // Goes past the else    //         break
    }                                   // 
  }//else {                             // else:
    // Never met the condition          //     <Never met condition>
//}
})();

This has the advantage of not using a flag. It is now inside another function, however, so you cannot declare variables to be used outside. You can still get and set variables in the scope above, so you just have to have the var statements outside of the function.

A working example for what you wanted to do:

(function(arr, value) {
  for (var i = 0, length = arr.length; i < length; i++) {
    if (arr[i] === value) {
      console.log("Match found: " + arr[i]);
      return;
    }
  }//else {
    console.log("No match found!");
//}
})([0, 1, 2, 3, 4], +prompt("Input: "));

If you are doing this often, you can create a function to do most of it for you.

function search(arr, condition, forBody, elseBody) {
  for (var i = 0, length = arr.length; i < length; i++) {
    if (condition(arr[i], arr)) {  // if
      return forBody(arr[i], arr);  // then
    }
  }
  return elseBody(arr);  // else
}

var value = +prompt("Input: ");
search([0, 1, 2, 3, 4],
  i => /* if */ i === value,
  i => /* then */ console.log("Match found: " + i),
  () => /* else */ console.log("No match found!"));

Comments

3

You could use Array.some(), with a testing callback:

if(!items.some( item => testCondition(item) )){
    // else statement
}

Array.some() returns true if any of the elements (or tests) is true, false othewise. You can take advantage of:

  • before returning a truthy value, your testCondition(item) can do whatever you want.
  • Array.some() will stop iterating at the first truthful iteration.

Here's an example:

const findBigItem = (items) => {
    if(!
        // for item in items:
        items.some( item => {
            // here the code for your iteration

            // check for the break condition
            if ( item > 15) {
                console.log("I broke something here: ",item);
                return true; // instead of break
            }
            // by default return null (which is falsy)
        })
    ) { // if no item returned true
        // here goes the else statement
        console.log("I found nothing!");
    }
};

findBigItem([0,1,2,3,4]); //I found nothing!
findBigItem([0,10,20,30,40]); //I broke something here: 20

So Array.some() will iterate over the elements and if any returns true, the loop breaks (it won't go through the rest of the elements). At the end, the value returned by Array.some() will act as a flag: if false you run your else statement.

So the for else logic becomes if not some.

Comments

1

You'll have to use the boolean. There's no for-else in JavaScript.

A nice and short way to search would be to use Array.prototype.indexOf():

var search = function(num, arr){
    var index = arr.indexOf(num);
    if(index !== -1)
        return "Match found: " + index;
    }
    return "No match found!";
};

Call it like this, for example:

console.log(search(4, [0,1,2,3,4]));

Comments

0

In these cases you can do a straight check for the value

if (!(searched in range(5))) { 
    console.log("No match found!"); 
}else{
    console.log(searched + " was found!");
}

Comments

-1

You can either use a boolean or you can simply return. Some thing along this line should work...

    var search = function(num){
    found = false;
    for(var i in [0,1,2,3,4]){
        if(i===num){
            console.log("Match found: "+ i);
            return true;
        }
    }
    return false;
};

6 Comments

Don't assume the OP always wants a array like that. If you want to search an array like this: [1,6,3,8,2], your code will not work.
@Cerbrus i didn't assume....i wrote as per OPs code.....OP uses the same code in question.....
The OP often makes mistakes on StackOverflow.
@Cerbrus come on man .....may be he uses only ordered array....You are assuming too much......you should let it go...:)
Ever heard of Defensive Programming? Never assume input is formatted the way it has to be. In situations where a function like this would be of use, the array's content are usually dynamic, or at least unknown.
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-1

If your ultimate is goal is to check whether given input is there are not in an array, you can simply make use of indexOf function.

var arr = [1,2,3,4,5]
var lookingFor = 5 ; 

if ( arr.indexOf(lookingFor) > -1 ) {
  console.log("Input is here") ;
} else {
  console.log("Nope");
}

https://jsfiddle.net/7wnasv5e/

Comments

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