Array and if statements

Question

if([]){}//true
if([]==true){}//false
if([1]==true){}//true
if([2]==true){}//false
if([1,2]==true){}//false
if(['Hi']==true){}//false
if([{aaa:1}]==true){}//false

[ ] is array. Array is object. Object is true, so [ ] is true. This is OK.

But I can't understand other results.

Agreed - don't expect people to help if you aren't going to follow the SO protocol of ask/answer/accept. (We aren't expecting 100% accept, but 0% is ridiculous) — Jamie Wong
– Jamie Wong, Commented Mar 28, 2011 at 17:29
An empty array [] coerces to the Number value 0 I believe. — Šime Vidas
– Šime Vidas, Commented Mar 28, 2011 at 17:34

Šime Vidas · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-28 17:43:05Z

1

if([]){}//true

All JavaScript objects are truthy - they all coerce to the Boolean value true.

if([]==true){}//false

If one Operand is an Object, and the other operand is a Boolean, then both operands coerce to a Number value. An empty array will coerce to 0:

0 == 1 // false

if([1]==true){}//true

Same thing here. For an array with one item, that item will coerce to Number and that value will be compared to the other operand:

1 == 1 // true

if([2]==true){}//false

is:

2 == 1 // false

if([1,2]==true){}//false

If the array has multiple items, the coercion to Number will result in NaN:

NaN == 1 // false

if(['Hi']==true){}//false

The string coerces to the Number value NaN:

NaN == 1 // false

if([{aaa:1}]==true){}//false

An object also coerces to the Number value NaN:

NaN == 1 // false

answered Mar 28, 2011 at 17:43

Šime Vidas

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3 Comments

Ryley Over a year ago

That's good stuff, is there a reference or easy way to test for myself what coercion is happening?

Šime Vidas Over a year ago

@Ryley Just read the spec: es5.github.com/#x11.9.3 It says it all right there. The coercion rules are 4. - 9.

Ryley Over a year ago

Perfect, I just wanted to make sure that info got attached to this answer :)

Justin Thomas · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-28 17:33:36Z

0

if([]==true){}//false

[ ] is not a boolean true it's an array. That is saying that an empty array IS a boolean true. It isn't--it's an empty array.

if([]) {} evaluates it as being defined and not null.

Check this: http://11heavens.com/falsy-and-truthy-in-javascript

answered Mar 28, 2011 at 17:33

Justin Thomas

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1 Comment

Aleadam Over a year ago

That is correct, although it does not explain why if([1]==true){}//true . For what I understand, [1] is 1 which is true

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:11:53Z

0

You can find some answers in here:

Strangest language feature

JavaScript equality transitivity is weird

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:11

CommunityBot

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answered Mar 28, 2011 at 17:34

Aleadam

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