Why is the split method still returning a string

Question

I understand that javascript's split() method should take a string and split it into an array based on the parameter(s) passed in the method.

I have run the following in the console:

var sen = 'I love javascript';
sen.split(' ');
console.log(typeof(sen));

So split(' ') should split the string based on whitespace and return an array with 3 strings.

However the console returns the typeof as "string" rather than "object"

Does anyone know why?

• user2864740: Read some documentation. What is the result of split?
• HelloWorld: I have read documentation, or I wouldn't ask here. developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/… I see that split should result in an array of strings. running typeof on an array should return object shouldn't it.
• user2864740: Keyword: returns (the assumption in the question is wrong)

Answer 1

Because split doesn't change sen. The returnvalue of

sen.split(' ');

would be an array. Try:

var sen = 'I love javascript';
var arr = sen.split(' ');
console.log(typeof(arr));

• HelloWorld: so the problem was that I needed to store the result of sen.split(' ') in a variable. Got it!
• jasonscript: @HelloWorld - it would be more correct to say that the split function doesn't modify the original value
• HelloWorld: @jasonscript && jhinzmann - If either of you have time would you mind explaining? I understand the split function is used to split a string into an array. Why does it not modify the original value (or the data type for that matter) unless it is stored in a new variable?