javascript, get array of numbers from random string

Question

I keep getting undefined function error at nums.match(). I have tried other methods as well, to no success.

I want to create a general function in javascript that will extract all numbers from a random string and add them into an array, in the order of extraction. Any Idea why I keep getting this error?

Uncaught TypeError: undefined is not a function 

Here is my current function:

var nums="A rectangle measuring 30.0 cm by 40.0 cm is located inside a region of a spatially uniform magnetic field of 1.35T , with the field perpendicular to the plane of the coil. The coil is pulled out at a steady rate of 2.00 cm/s traveling perpendicular to the field lines. The region of the field ends abruptly as shown.";
 nums = nums.match(/\d+\.?\d*/g);

alert(nums);
var bookNums = nums.split(" ");
alert(bookNums[0],bookNums[1],bookNums[2]);

Answer 1

After the assignment in your second line of code, nums is an array not a string. There is no Array.prototype.split , which is causing your error. Because String.prototype.match returns an array, nums already contains the values you want (or null if no matches were found).

Here's a rewrite that should work:

var nums = "A rectangle measuring 30.0 cm by 40.0 cm is located inside a region of a spatially uniform magnetic field of 1.35T , with the field perpendicular to the plane of the coil. The coil is pulled out at a steady rate of 2.00 cm/s traveling perpendicular to the field lines. The region of the field ends abruptly as shown.";
var bookNums = nums.match(/\d+\.?\d*/g);

console.log(bookNums);    // array or null

Answer 2

var nums="A rectangle measuring 30.0 cm by 40.0 cm is located inside a region of a spatially uniform magnetic field of 1.35T , with the field perpendicular to the plane of the coil. The coil is pulled out at a steady rate of 2.00 cm/s traveling perpendicular to the field lines. The region of the field ends abruptly as shown.";
var nums_array = nums.match(/\d+\.?\d*/g);
var bookNums = nums_array;