split() quirk

[Christopher Benson-Manica]

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

 

[Fred Oz]

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

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

 

[Christopher Benson-Manica]

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:

I'm sure it's just me, but it seems counterintuitive to me Thanks.

 

[Chris]

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

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

Chris

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

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

 

[Dr John Stockton]

JRS: In article <[email protected]>, dated Fri, 25 Feb 2005
14:43:16, seen in Christopher Benson-Manica

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

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.

 

[Fred Oz]

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

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

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