Alternative syntax for splitting a JavaScript string into an array of characters?

Question

I wanted to split a string into individual characters for output, and I thought about using string.split("") to convert my string into an array, but I found that it wasn't necessary. Look at this:

<script type = "text/javascript" language = "Javascript">
var vx = "FGHIFKL"
for (var i = 0; var i<vx.length; i++)
{
document.write(vx[i]); // Outputs FGHIFKL
} 
</script>

It seems you can access strings as if they were arrays by using vx[0] without explicitly using str.split. Because vx[0] = F, vx[1] = G, etc. Is this syntax generally allowed, or even recommended for use in browsers? And how come this even works? I didn't know you could do something like this until today. Thanks in advance!

yes. string is treated as a character array, esp in ECMAScript 5. — Abhitalks
– Abhitalks, Commented Jan 16, 2014 at 7:00

satchmorun · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-16 07:02:53Z

2

Yup, you can use [] notation to pull individual characters out of JS strings.

Keep in mind that this doesn't work in the older IE's (7 definitely fails, and I believe 8 does as well).

You can use charAt for a cross-browser solution

"asdf".charAt(1) === "s";

answered Jan 16, 2014 at 7:02

satchmorun

12.5k2 gold badges43 silver badges27 bronze badges

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

Comments

Abhitalks · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-16 07:08:50Z

1

A String in JavaScript is a sequence of characters.

There are two ways to get to individual characters in a string.

The charAt method: str.charAt(n)
ECMAScript 5 introduced a way to treat strings as an array-like object: str[n]

On the other hand, split method returns a new array which is an array of strings separated into substrings. Interesting to note is the fact that if separator parameter to the split method is an empty string, the string is converted to an array of characters.

answered Jan 16, 2014 at 7:08

Abhitalks

28.5k6 gold badges61 silver badges82 bronze badges

Comments

HandyAndyShortStack · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-16 07:20:13Z

0

Reading numerical indicies of strings is a reliable feature of javascript as of ES5. These index properties are not quite the same as on arrays in that they are not writable or configurable. Check out the MDN page for strings and the ECMAScript Language Specification sections 15.5.5 and 15.5.5.2 for more information.

edited Jan 16, 2014 at 7:20

answered Jan 16, 2014 at 7:13

HandyAndyShortStack

5595 silver badges8 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Alternative syntax for splitting a JavaScript string into an array of characters?

3 Answers 3

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related