Using array returned by String.split

Question

data = 'numbersXXXtext';

or

data = 'XXXtext';


var get = data.split('XXX');
var sum = get[1];

I would like get always "text". If data equals numbersXXXtext, the code works fine, but if data is XXXtext then get[1] is undefinded.

Does anyone know how I can solve this?

Wouldn't it be get[0] since it is the first, and only, item in the array? — Gregg B
– Gregg B, Commented Jan 7, 2012 at 13:28
I've posted an answer, and @Matt has proposed a neater alternative in a comment, but in which browser do you get undefined? I tried in Chrome and IE and "XXXtest".split("XXX")[1] returns "test" — nnnnnn
– nnnnnn, Commented Jan 7, 2012 at 13:35
Also, never name a variable get. get has become sort of a keyword. — PointedEars
– PointedEars, Commented Jan 7, 2012 at 13:40
Just looked it up in ECMA Script definition (ECMA-262, June 2011). I'm pretty sure that it should return an array with 2 elements: "" and "text". It certainly does in Java, and I would be very surprised if this isn't the same in most programming environments. — Maarten Bodewes
– Maarten Bodewes, Commented Jan 7, 2012 at 13:56
Mark, could you please add the runtime information (e.g. browser + version & platform) to the quesion for future reference, this seems to be an implementation mistake in the runtime — Maarten Bodewes
– Maarten Bodewes, Commented Jan 7, 2012 at 14:00

lonesomeday · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-07 13:32:22Z

6

If there is only one occurrence of XXX in the string, the bit you want will always be the last item in the array returned by split. You can use pop to get the last item of an array:

var a = "numbersXXXtext";
var b = "XXXtext";

console.log(a.split('XXX').pop()); // "text"
console.log(b.split('XXX').pop()); // "text"

answered Jan 7, 2012 at 13:32

lonesomeday

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2 Comments

Matt Over a year ago

I guess it's important to note here that this will remove the last element from the array; not just retrieve it.

lonesomeday Over a year ago

Indeed, though it's immaterial in my answer because the array returned from split is never stored. You're right, of course.

nnnnnn · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-07 13:29:45Z

1

Try this:

var sum = get.length > 1 ? get[1] : get[0]

answered Jan 7, 2012 at 13:29

nnnnnn

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1 Comment

Matt Over a year ago

get[get.length -1] would be a (better?) alternative.

T23 · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-07 13:40:21Z

1

Strange, i just tried your code, and it's working. (http://writecodeonline.com/javascript/) Are you sure you are not missing something?

    data = 'numbersXXXtext';
   //data = 'XXXtext';
    var get = data.split('XXX');

    document.write(get[1]);
    document.write("</br>");
    document.write(get);
    document.write("</br>");

I didn't get undefined in neither of your strings

answered Jan 7, 2012 at 13:40

T23

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Comments

Rogel Garcia · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-07 13:50:53Z

1

An alternative using substring:

var data = 'numbersXXXtext';
var value = data.substring(data.indexOf('XXX') + 'XXX'.length);

answered Jan 7, 2012 at 13:50

Rogel Garcia

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