split() quirk

[Christopher Benson-Manica]

Why does ''.split(',') yield an array with length 1 rather than an
array with length 0?

--
Christopher Benson-Manica | I *should* know what I'm talking about - if I
ataru(at)cybers pace.org | don't, I need to know. Flames welcome.

[Fred Oz]

Re: split() quirk

Christopher Benson-Manica wrote:[color=blue]
> Why does ''.split(',') yield an array with length 1 rather than an
> array with length 0?
>[/color]

Because the first element of the array will be everything up to
the first ','. You have created an array with one element that
contains nothing. It is equivalent to:

var newArray = [,];

Which has a length of 1, but it contains nothing.


Some examples:

alert( ''.split(',').l ength) // 1
var z = []; alert(z.length) // 0
var z = [,]; alert(z.length) // 1




--
Fred

[Christopher Benson-Manica]

Re: split() quirk

Fred Oz <ozfred@iinet.n et.auau> spoke thus:
[color=blue]
> Because the first element of the array will be everything up to
> the first ','. You have created an array with one element that
> contains nothing. It is equivalent to:[/color]

I'm sure it's just me, but it seems counterintuitiv e to me :) Thanks.

--
Christopher Benson-Manica | I *should* know what I'm talking about - if I
ataru(at)cybers pace.org | don't, I need to know. Flames welcome.

[Chris]

Re: split() quirk

var z = [,]; alert(z.length) // 1

returns 2 for me, is it that there's a space before and after the comma?

Chris

"Fred Oz" <ozfred@iinet.n et.auau> wrote in message
news:421f4676$0 $30570$5a62ac22 @per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au ...[color=blue]
> Christopher Benson-Manica wrote:[color=green]
> > Why does ''.split(',') yield an array with length 1 rather than an
> > array with length 0?
> >[/color]
>
> Because the first element of the array will be everything up to
> the first ','. You have created an array with one element that
> contains nothing. It is equivalent to:
>
> var newArray = [,];
>
> Which has a length of 1, but it contains nothing.
>
>
> Some examples:
>
> alert( ''.split(',').l ength) // 1
> var z = []; alert(z.length) // 0
> var z = [,]; alert(z.length) // 1
>
>
>
>
> --
> Fred[/color]

[Dr John Stockton]

Re: split() quirk

JRS: In article <cvndi4$2ce$1@c hessie.cirr.com >, dated Fri, 25 Feb 2005
14:43:16, seen in news:comp.lang. javascript, Christopher Benson-Manica
<ataru@nospam.c yberspace.org> posted :
[color=blue]
>Why does ''.split(',') yield an array with length 1 rather than an
>array with length 0?[/color]

I have a vague recollection that the result may be browser-dependent.

But what you (and I) get agrees with ECMA 262, Edn 3, 15.5.4.14, para 3,
IMHO.

--
© John Stockton, Surrey, UK. ?@merlyn.demon. co.uk Delphi 3 Turnpike 4 ©
<URL:http://www.merlyn.demo n.co.uk/> TP/BP/Delphi/&c., FAQqy topics & links;
<URL:http://www.bancoems.co m/CompLangPascalD elphiMisc-MiniFAQ.htm> clpdmFAQ;
<URL:http://www.borland.com/newsgroups/guide.html> news:borland.* Guidelines

[Fred Oz]

Re: split() quirk

Chris wrote:[color=blue]
> var z = [,]; alert(z.length) // 1
>
> returns 2 for me, is it that there's a space before and after the comma?[/color]


No, it's whether you use IE or not. Firefox/Mozilla/Safari all
give 1, but IE gives 2. :-)

--
Fred