How to get specific element within an array without knowing the exact string

Question

TLDR; Is there any way to use $.inArray by only knowing what the element begins with or contains?

I have an array of elements and I would like to be able to pick out an element that begins with a certain string as the value is dynamic.

For example:

My array is:

array = ["Alpha_GB8732", "Beta_GB29834", "Gamma_GB2384", "Delta_GB23984"]

But for each user, the order and the exact names may change.

Use jQuery, I can do the following to get the element if I know the exact value.

var order = $.inArray("Alpha_GB8732", array)
$item = $(array).get(order)

However, since everything after GB changes for each element on the page load, I cannot use this as I do not know the exact string.

Is there any way to use $.inArray by only knowing what the element begins with or contains?

ANSWER

Thanks so much for all of your help guys! I really appreciate it.

In the end, the best answer for me was Louis's response:

let array = ["Alpha_GB8732", "Beta_GB29834", "Gamma_GB2384", "Delta_GB23984"]
let result = array.filter((el) => el.includes("Alpha_GB") === true);
console.log(result);

This didn't work for me at first... because gulp-uglify for some reason couldn't compile the es6 script. So, just for anyone out there who may have the same problem when compiling, here is the same thing but in es5:

array = ["Alpha_GB8732", "Beta_GB29834", "Gamma_GB2384", "Delta_GB23984"]
var result = array.filter(function (el) {
    return el.includes("Alpha_GB") === true;
});
console.log(result);

Again, thanks a lot for your help everyone! (@Louis, @ControlAltDel)

You can use indexOf and if it return > -1, it is present. If you have the beginning, you can use startsWith — Lamonde
– Lamonde, Commented Apr 3, 2019 at 14:50

Someone · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-03 14:58:26Z

1

Based on ControlAltDel's comment, you can use Array.filter(). See the example below;

let array = ["Alpha_GB8732", "Beta_GB29834", "Gamma_GB2384", "Delta_GB23984"]
let result = array.filter((el) => el.includes("Alpha_GB") === true);
console.log(result);

// You could turn this in to a function
function arrayContains(arr, str){
  return arr.filter((el) => el.includes("Alpha_GB") === true).length > 0;
}

console.log(arrayContains(array, 'Alpha_GB')); // returns true

// And use it like this
//if(arrayContains(array, 'Alpha_GB')){}...

edited Apr 3, 2019 at 14:58

answered Apr 3, 2019 at 14:52

Someone

3,5881 gold badge28 silver badges43 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Brad Ahrens Over a year ago

This is a great solution as I really needed it to only include the string as opposed to being an exact match. Thanks!

ControlAltDel · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-03 14:53:50Z

1

You could use filter, like

array = ["Alpha_GB8732", "Beta_GB29834", "Gamma_GB2384", "Delta_GB23984"]
var find = array.filter(function(item) {
  return (this === "Alpha_GB8732");
});
find = (find.length > 0) ? find[0] : null;

edited Apr 3, 2019 at 14:53

answered Apr 3, 2019 at 14:52

ControlAltDel

35.2k10 gold badges60 silver badges86 bronze badges

3 Comments

Someone Over a year ago

Ah, I didn't know you'd post an answer too =) Mine's based on your comment. FWIW, this is a better implementation anyway.

Someone Over a year ago

Actually, won't yours only return true if there's an exact full-string match?

ControlAltDel Over a year ago

@Lewis yes. But nothing is stopping you from using a regex in place of string equals.

Zeeshan Adil · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-03 14:57:59Z

1

So you need to filter out the array based upon some characters inside it This is how it should work:

const MyArray = ["Alpha_GB8732", "Beta_GB29834", "Gamma_GB2384", "Delta_GB23984"]

//you can replace .startswith() with any function that you might need. you can also apply .toLowerCase() to filter case-insensitive items

const filteredArray = MyArray.filter((x) => x.startsWith("N"));

console.log(filteredArray);

Hope it helps!

answered Apr 3, 2019 at 14:57

Zeeshan Adil

2,1555 gold badges26 silver badges47 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to get specific element within an array without knowing the exact string

ANSWER

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

3 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

ANSWER

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

3 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related