Remove item in array recursive call pattern?

Question

When dealing with a recursive call within an array object, where I'm passing an array to a function and each proceeding call, I'd like the array argument to be n-1.

I normally use:

Array.prototype.shift
Array.prototype.pop

I have to call these methods the line before the recursive call. Check the example below.

Here is what I normally resort to:

function responseData(urls){
    if (urls.length-1){
        return;
    }
    http.get(urls[0], function(res) {
      res.setEncoding('utf8');
      var body = '';
      res.on('data', function(chunk) {
        body += chunk;
      });
      res.on('end', function() {
            console.log(body.toString());
            urls.shift(); // NOTICE THIS LINE
            printResponseData(urls);
      });
    });
}

Is there a cleaner alternative to this approach?

Can I eliminate using shift or pop that return values, to a method that will minimize the size of the array and return the newly minified array so I can pass this straight to my recursive call?

if (urls.length-1){ is weird. Did you mean if (urls.length==0){? — Bergi
– Bergi, Commented Feb 25, 2016 at 21:38

Bergi · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-25 21:37:14Z

3

You can use the slice method to get a smaller array. It won't mutate the original argument, but rather create a new one.

To get an array without the first element, use

urls.slice(1)

To get an array without the last element, use

urls.slice(0, -1)

answered Feb 25, 2016 at 21:37

Bergi

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Comments

Jimi WIlls · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-25 21:39:43Z

0

I'm guessing this is what you mean?

printResponseData(urls.slice(1));

will skip the first element and give the rest to the end of the array

// or
printResponseData(urls.slice(0, -1));

will give from the start of the array to the penultimate element.

answered Feb 25, 2016 at 21:39

Jimi WIlls

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1 Comment

Jimi WIlls Over a year ago

Just like what Bergi said!

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