Convert string with commas to array

Question

How can I convert a string to a JavaScript array?

Look at the code:

var string = "0,1";
var array = [string];
alert(array[0]);

In this case, alert would pop-up a 0,1. When it would be an array, it would pop-up a 0, and when alert(array[1]); is called, it should pop-up the 1.

Is there any chance to convert such string into a JavaScript array?

Solution 1

For simple array members like that, you can use JSON.parse.

var array = JSON.parse("[" + string + "]");

---

This gives you an Array of numbers.

[0, 1]

If you use .split(), you'll end up with an Array of strings.

["0", "1"]

---

Just be aware that JSON.parse will limit you to the supported data types. If you need values like undefined or functions, you'd need to use eval(), or a JavaScript parser.

---

If you want to use .split(), but you also want an Array of Numbers, you could use Array.prototype.map, though you'd need to shim it for IE8 and lower or just write a traditional loop.

var array = string.split(",").map(Number);

Solution 2

Split it on the , character;

var string = "0,1";
var array = string.split(",");
alert(array[0]);

Solution 3

This is easily achieved in ES6;

You can convert strings to Arrays with Array.from('string');

Array.from("01")

will console.log

['0', '1']

Which is exactly what you're looking for.

Solution 4

If the string is already in list format, you can use the JSON.parse:

var a = "['a', 'b', 'c']";
a = a.replace(/'/g, '"');
a = JSON.parse(a);

Solution 5

Convert all type of strings

var array = (new Function("return [" + str+ "];")());



var string = "0,1";

var objectstring = '{Name:"Tshirt", CatGroupName:"Clothes", Gender:"male-female"}, {Name:"Dress", CatGroupName:"Clothes", Gender:"female"}, {Name:"Belt", CatGroupName:"Leather", Gender:"child"}';

var stringArray = (new Function("return [" + string+ "];")());

var objectStringArray = (new Function("return [" + objectstring+ "];")());

JSFiddle https://jsfiddle.net/7ne9L4Lj/1/

Result in console

Some practice doesnt support object strings

- JSON.parse("[" + string + "]"); // throw error

 - string.split(",") 
// unexpected result 
   ["{Name:"Tshirt"", " CatGroupName:"Clothes"", " Gender:"male-female"}", "      {Name:"Dress"", " CatGroupName:"Clothes"", " Gender:"female"}", " {Name:"Belt"",    " CatGroupName:"Leather"", " Gender:"child"}"]

View more solutions

Comments

[scunliffe]

Also be aware that JSON.parse(); is not available in IE6, IE7. I think in this case the String.split(','); is easier.

[I Hate Lazy]

@scunliffe: True, a shim would be needed, or one could take the jQuery approach to shim it var array = (new Function("return [" + string + "];"))(). Using .split() is alright if Numbers aren't needed, otherwise you'd need to map the result.

[I Hate Lazy]

@Downvoter: Try to describe what is wrong with the answer so that I can demonstrate how you're wrong.

[Andi AR]

@I Hate Lazy This doesnt support object string.see here stackoverflow.com/a/32657055/2632619

[WestCoastProjects]

This is the most generally applicable answer. JSON can not be used for arbitrary delimiters (e.g. tab, space, etc)

[Wilt]

@FarzadYZ Be careful with that (using eval). If the array contains values from client side input this will be insecure.

[Wilt]

This won't work when your array values are string values that possible have a comma inside. For example: "123, 'a string with a , comma', 456". You could use a more complex regex to handle such cases correctly (for example something like suggested here).

[Farzad Yousefzadeh]

@Wilt Actually eval is always a security concern

[Onur Yıldırım]

Don't use JSON.parse approach, it's never wise to form and evaluate strings into JS. Use split+map, it's better and elegant.

[Eshwar Prasad Yaddanapudi]

JSON.parse() worked so perfectly for me. Thank you! Here is my case: receivedValue is` "[{name:"Eshwar", area:"Hyd"},{name:"Prasad", area:"India"}]` So for my unittest case, i did assert using _.isArray(JSON.parse(receivedValue))

[Eshwar Prasad Yaddanapudi]

This is awesome. I moved my code from JSON.parse to Array.from as am using ES6. Thank you Ray Kim

[Janatbek Orozaly]

console.log(typeof Data); //string ========== var myArray = Array.from(Data); ============ console.log(typeof myArray); //Object doesn't support property or method 'from' ========== Why Is that?

[29er]

This is NOT supported in any version of IE. be careful

[Artyom Pranovich]

Awesome! Along with Array.from answer they should be the only answers for ES6 solutions.

[Tina Chen]

But Array.from("0, 1, 233") will return ["0", ",", " ", "1", ",", " ", "2", "3", "3"], what if I want [0, 1, 233] ?

[Admin]

string.split(','); OR for of & push

[Admin]

bad solution! more info seeing https://github.com/gildata/RAIO/issues/116#issuecomment-3259‌​01359

[Admin]

bad solution! more info seeing https://github.com/gildata/RAIO/issues/116#issuecomment-3259‌​01359

[sqp_125]

Great function I also use it but unfortunately it does NOT work for strings or symbols: like e.g. "0,s" any ideas how to fix that?

[Edison D'souza]

This is converting every single character as an array element. But we need only comma separated strings to be array elements. So not a valid solution.

[Unreality]

@sqp_125 try 0,'s' ?

[Dan Mantyla]

@Wilt well no it wouldn't, but yeah you could use regex to fix that

[Wilt]

I didn't mean to criticize your answer, but I wrote this because I used your solution and ran into this issue myself. Thought of leaving the comment for others possibly running into similar problems.

[Arnav Borborah]

Is there a syntax for converting a comma separated string into a number array using es6 features?

[pldg]

There is an error in this answer. "0,1".split() returns ["0,1"] and not ["0", "1"]. Use "0,1".split(",") to return ["0", "1"]

[vhs]

This method is only reliable when argument is a Set of strings.

[xgqfrms]

this solution not work any more

[ya.teck]

Could be shortened as follows string.split(',').map(Number)