I’d like to compare two arrays… ideally, efficiently. Nothing fancy, just true if they are identical, and false if not. Not surprisingly, the comparison operator doesn’t seem to work.
var a1 = [1,2,3];
var a2 = [1,2,3];
console.log(a1==a2); // Returns false
console.log(JSON.stringify(a1)==JSON.stringify(a2)); // Returns true
JSON encoding each array does, but is there a faster or “better” way to simply compare arrays without having to iterate through each value?
To compare arrays, loop through them and compare every value:
Comparing arrays:
// Warn if overriding existing method
if(Array.prototype.equals)
console.warn(“Overriding existing Array.prototype.equals. Possible causes: New API defines the method, there’s a framework conflict or you’ve got double inclusions in your code.”);
// attach the .equals method to Array’s prototype to call it on any array
Array.prototype.equals = function (array) {
// if the other array is a falsy value, return
if (!array)
return false;
// compare lengths – can save a lot of time
if (this.length != array.length)
return false;
for (var i = 0, l=this.length; i not equal
return false;
}
}
//Now a deeper check using other objects property names
for(propName in object2) {
//We must check instances anyway, there may be a property that only exists in object2
//I wonder, if remembering the checked values from the first loop would be faster or not
if (this.hasOwnProperty(propName) != object2.hasOwnProperty(propName)) {
return false;
}
else if (typeof this[propName] != typeof object2[propName]) {
return false;
}
//If the property is inherited, do not check any more (it must be equa if both objects inherit it)
if(!this.hasOwnProperty(propName))
continue;
//Now the detail check and recursion
//This returns the script back to the array comparing
/**REQUIRES Array.equals**/
if (this[propName] instanceof Array && object2[propName] instanceof Array) {
// recurse into the nested arrays
if (!this[propName].equals(object2[propName]))
return false;
}
else if (this[propName] instanceof Object && object2[propName] instanceof Object) {
// recurse into another objects
//console.log(“Recursing to compare “, this[propName],”with”,object2[propName], ” both named “”+propName+”””);
if (!this[propName].equals(object2[propName]))
return false;
}
//Normal value comparison for strings and numbers
else if(this[propName] != object2[propName]) {
return false;
}
}
//If everything passed, let’s say YES
return true;
}
However, remember that this one is to serve in comparing JSON like data, not class instances and other stuff. If you want to compare more complicated objects, look at this answer and it’s super long function.
To make this work with Array.equals you must edit the original function a little bit:
…
// Check if we have nested arrays
if (this[i] instanceof Array && array[i] instanceof Array) {
// recurse into the nested arrays
if (!this[i].equals(array[i]))
return false;
}
/**REQUIRES OBJECT COMPARE**/
else if (this[i] instanceof Object && array[i] instanceof Object) {
// recurse into another objects
//console.log(“Recursing to compare “, this[propName],”with”,object2[propName], ” both named “”+propName+”””);
if (!this[i].equals(array[i]))
return false;
}
else if (this[i] != array[i]) {
…
I made a little test tool for both of the functions.
Bonus: Nested arrays with indexOf and contains
Samy Bencherif has prepared useful functions for the case you’re searching for a specific object in nested arrays, which are available here: https://jsfiddle.net/SamyBencherif/8352y6yw/