If I want to clone an array, I can use the slice() function, but what if I want to "clone" a single element? I want to do something like this:
array1[i] = array2[i];
but I want to copy the value, not the reference. How can I do this? Also, will the solution work for associative arrays too? For example:
array1["one"] = array2["one"];
Thank you in advance.
You could use Object.assign and Array.splice
var cloneItem = Object.assign({}, array1[i]);
array2.splice(i, 0, cloneItem);
EDIT
The previous adds a clone item in the position, pushing the rest of the elements to the right. If you simply want to replace just do
array2[i] = Object.assign({}, array1[i]);
You can do this:
array1[i] = Object.assign({}, array2[i]);
But it doesn't work if there are primitives an array. Also you can use slice method like you wrote:
array1[i] = array2.slice(i, 1);
Cloning an array properly (without leaving any references in the nested structure) is not that simple. You need a tool for that. Unfortunately it is not a part of standard array methods. You have to develop it yourself. Such as
Array.prototype.clone = function(){
return this.map(e => Array.isArray(e) ? e.clone() : e);
};
Once you have this tool at hand you can clone the array first and then assign whatever item of the clone array you wish; such as array1[i] = array2.clone()[i];
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