How to modify nested value with a single variable as multiple keys

Question

Let's say I have a dictionary like this (this is just example data):

obj = {
    name: 'John',
    properties: {
       age: 42,
       address: 'somewhere'
    }
}

What if I wanted to modify a value of any depth, specified by a variable?

For depth 1 it would be direct:

obj[what_to_modify] = new_value

but for depth > 1?

what_to_modify="properties.age"
obj[what_to_modify.split('.')] = new_value
// I KNOW, THIS DOESN'T WORK, IT JUST
// ILLUSTRATES WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE

My solution was to do a foor lop like this:

let levels = what_to_modify.split('.')
let it = obj
for(let k=0; k < levels.length; k++){
    let key = levels[k]
    if(k == levels.length -1){
        it[key] = new_value
    }else{
        it = it[key]
    }
}

This already works, but I wanted to know: Is there a less messy way to do it?

To be clear, I don't want to just read the value, I want to modify it, so Accessing nested JavaScript objects and arrays by string path and Access property via it's keyPath in Javascript? don't solve my problem

IMPORTANT

The accepted answer uses lodash, but actually I shouldn't include new dependencies in my project, so if there's any other way with vanilla JS, I will change the accepted answer to that.

Does this answer your question? Access property via it's keyPath in Javascript? — Damiaan Dufaux
– Damiaan Dufaux, Commented May 14, 2021 at 17:50
Does this answer your question? Accessing nested JavaScript objects and arrays by string path — mdeamp
– mdeamp, Commented May 14, 2021 at 17:50
@DamiaanDufaux It would if it allowed me to modify it, not only to read it — Miguel
– Miguel, Commented May 14, 2021 at 17:56
@mdeamf same as with Damian, but also it's as messy as my proposed solution — Miguel
– Miguel, Commented May 14, 2021 at 17:57

score 2 · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-14 18:06:49Z

2

You can use lodash. _.set sets a value by path and _.get returns a value by path. _.toPath converts a string to a path array.

const obj = {
    name: 'John',
    properties: {
       age: 42,
       address: 'somewhere'
    }
};

const propertiesAgePath = _.toPath('properties.age');
console.log(_.get(obj, propertiesAgePath));
_.set(obj, propertiesAgePath, 43);
console.log(_.get(obj, propertiesAgePath));
_.set(obj, _.toPath('properties.address'), 'new address');
console.log(obj);

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/lodash.min.js"></script>

edited May 14, 2021 at 18:06

answered May 14, 2021 at 17:49

user15388024

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2 Comments

Miguel Over a year ago

I'm going to upvote and accept, but actually I shouldn't include new dependencies to the project I'm working on, so if there's any other answer that can do that for me without lodash, I will have to change it. Thanks anyway

user15388024 Over a year ago

@Miguel That's very sad that so many people insist in reinventing the wheel. That's a solved problem and lodash has so many helpful tools that I add it to most projects I'm working in. It's great for deep clones, creating ranges, complex object modifications, ...

sychordCoder · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-14 17:59:04Z

1

You can also carefully use eval to accomplish this.

let new_value = 9

obj = {
    name: 'John',
    properties: {
       age: 42,
       address: 'somewhere'
    }
}

what_to_modify="properties.age"

eval("obj."+what_to_modify+"= new_value")

console.log(obj)

answered May 14, 2021 at 17:59

sychordCoder

2845 silver badges15 bronze badges

4 Comments

user15388024 Over a year ago

Please read Never use eval()!

Miguel Over a year ago

I'm not going to include eval in my code, but thank you for taking your time to answer.

sychordCoder Over a year ago

eval is dangerous depending on what you put in there. Understand your desire to not use it.

user15388024 Over a year ago

It's not only dangerous but also slow. It can easily be replaced with functions with better performance.

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