Random string of text from an array

Question

I am trying to get a JavaScript code to select a string of text at random from an array. This is what I have so far but it doesn't seem to be working, appreciate the help. Don't know if this matters but this is for a website.

var myArray = ['One does not simply click the acorn'.'acorn spices all the rage with Martha Stewart', 'Once more into the acorn tree my friends','Acornbook launches as first acorn based social media']; 
var rand = myArray[Math.floor(Math.random() * myArray.length)];
var postmessage = + myArray;

What specifically is not working? What have you done to debug it? — clearlight
– clearlight, Commented Mar 31, 2015 at 2:19
@ntalbs - Great, you actually changed the code with your edit. — Scary Wombat
– Scary Wombat, Commented Mar 31, 2015 at 2:19

Hanzallah Afgan · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-31 02:21:50Z

2

You are using the dot "." instead of comma "," among the very first two elements in myArray. You should use comma there as below.

var myArray = ['One does not simply click the acorn','acorn spices all the rage with Martha Stewart', 'Once more into the acorn tree my friends','Acornbook launches as first acorn based social media'];

edited Mar 31, 2015 at 2:21

answered Mar 31, 2015 at 2:12

Hanzallah Afgan

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1 Comment

Scary Wombat Over a year ago

Even though @ntalbs changed the code, you answer was correct.

Dan Prince · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-31 02:22:56Z

0

You're getting the random value in the correct way, but the issue is what happens on line 3.

var postmessage = + myArray;

Putting a + sign in front of an array will try to turn it into a number, so doing + myArray results in NaN which is probably not what you wanted.

I'm going to guess that you probably wanted to store the random phrase in post message. Which would instead look like:

var postmessage = rand;

answered Mar 31, 2015 at 2:22

Dan Prince

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Comments

Daniel K. · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-31 03:01:43Z

0

I think you made a simple mistake by accident. You are trying to add an array to a variable. I assume you wanted to add the randomly picked element so you would want on the third line:

var postmessage = + rand;

edited Mar 31, 2015 at 3:01

answered Mar 31, 2015 at 2:21

Daniel K.

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1 Comment

Dan Prince Over a year ago

You can't actually use the += operator after a var statement. The variable will have no value when you try to call the addition operator. This is probably going to result in a Syntax error.

D G ANNOJIRAO · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-31 03:02:33Z

0

<script>
var postmessage = ''; // initialization for getting the random selected text from array
var myArray = ['One does not simply click the acorn', 'acorn spices all the rage with Martha Stewart', 'Once more into the acorn tree my friends', 'Acornbook launches as first acorn based social media']; 
var rand = myArray[Math.floor(Math.random() * myArray.length)];
var postmessage =  rand;
</script>

answered Mar 31, 2015 at 3:02

D G ANNOJIRAO

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