How do I pass an extra parameter to the callback function in Javascript .filter() method?

Question

I want to compare each string in an Array with a given string. My current implementation is:

function startsWith(element) {
    return element.indexOf(wordToCompare) === 0;
}
addressBook.filter(startsWith);

This simple function works, but only because right now wordToCompare is being set as a global variable, but of course I want to avoid this and pass it as a parameter. My problem is that I am not sure how to define startsWith() so it accepts one extra parameter, because I dont really understand how the default parameters it takes are passed. I've tried all the different ways I can think of and none of them work.

If you could also explain how the passed parameters to 'built in' callback functions (sorry, I dont know of a better term for these) work that would be great

Answer 1

Make startsWith accept the word to compare against and return a function which will then be used as filter/callback function:

function startsWith(wordToCompare) {
    return function(element) {
        return element.indexOf(wordToCompare) === 0;
    }
}

addressBook.filter(startsWith(wordToCompare));

Another option would be to use Function.prototype.bind ^[MDN] (only available in browser supporting ECMAScript 5, follow a link for a shim for older browsers) and "fix" the first argument:

function startsWith(wordToCompare, element) {
    return element.indexOf(wordToCompare) === 0;
}

addressBook.filter(startsWith.bind(this, wordToCompare));

---

I dont really understand how the default parameters it takes are passed

There is nothing special about it. At some point, filter just calls the callback and passes the current element of the array. So it's a function calling another function, in this case the callback you pass as argument.

Here is an example of a similar function:

function filter(array, callback) {
    var result = [];
    for(var i = 0, l = array.length; i < l; i++) {
        if(callback(array[i])) {  // here callback is called with the current element
            result.push(array[i]);
        }
    }
    return result;
}

Answer 2

The second parameter of filter will set this inside of the callback.

arr.filter(callback[, thisArg])

So you could do something like:

function startsWith(element) {
    return element.indexOf(this) === 0;
}
addressBook.filter(startsWith, wordToCompare);

Answer 3

function startsWith(element, wordToCompare) {
    return element.indexOf(wordToCompare) === 0;
}

// ...
var word = "SOMETHING";

addressBook.filter(function(element){
    return startsWith(element, word);
});

Answer 4

For those looking for an ES6 alternative using arrow functions, you can do the following.

let startsWith = wordToCompare => (element, index, array) => {
  return element.indexOf(wordToCompare) === 0;
}

// where word would be your argument
let result = addressBook.filter(startsWith("word"));

Updated version using includes :

const startsWith = wordToCompare => (element, index, array) => {
  return element.includes(wordToCompare);
}

Answer 5

You can use the arrow function inside a filter, like this:

result = addressBook.filter(element => element.indexOf(wordToCompare) === 0);

Arrow functions on MDN

An arrow function expression has a shorter syntax compared to function expressions and lexically binds the this value (does not bind its own this, arguments, super, or new.target). Arrow functions are always anonymous. These function expressions are best suited for non-method functions and they can not be used as constructors.

Answer 6

For anyone wondering why their fat arrow function is ignoring [, thisArg] , eg why

["DOG", "CAT", "DOG"].filter(animal => animal === this, "DOG") returns []

it's because this inside those arrow functions are bound when the function is created and are set to the value of this in the broader encompassing scope, so the thisArg argument is ignored. I got around this pretty easily by declaring a new variable in a parent scope:

let bestPet = "DOG"; ["DOG", "CAT", "DOG"].filter(animal => animal === bestPet); => ["DOG", "DOG"]

Here is a link to some more reading: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Functions/Arrow_functions#No_separate_this

Answer 7

based on oddRaven answer and https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array/filter

i did it 2 different way . 1) using function way . 2) using inline way .

 //Here is sample codes : var templateList = [ { name: "name1", index: 1, dimension: 1 } , { name: "name2", index: 2, dimension: 1 } , { name: "name3", index: 3, dimension: 2 } ]; //Method 1) using function : function getDimension1(obj) { if (obj.dimension === 1) // This is hardcoded . return true; else return false; } var tl = templateList.filter(getDimension1); // it will return 2 results. 1st and 2nd objects. console.log(tl) ; //Method 2) using inline way var tl3 = templateList.filter(element => element.index === 1 || element.dimension === 2 ); // it will return 1st and 3rd objects console.log(tl3) ; 

Answer 8

There is an easy way to use the filter function, access all params, and not over complicate it.

Unless the callback's thisArg is set to another scope filter does not create its own scope, and we can access params within the current scope. We can set 'this' to define a different scope in order to access other values if needed, but by default it is set to the scope it's called from. You can see this being used for Angular scopes in this stack .

Using indexOf is defeating the purpose of filter, and adding more overhead. Filter is already going through the array, so why do we need to iterate through it again? We can instead make it a simple pure function .

Here's a use-case scenario within a React class method where the state has an array called items , and by using filter we can check the existing state:

checkList = (item) => {  // we can access this param and globals within filter
  var result = this.state.filter(value => value === item); // returns array of matching items

  result.length ? return `${item} exists` : this.setState({
    items: items.push(item) // bad practice, but to keep it light
  });
}