Find the index of an array element without using built in indexOf function

Question

I am fairly new to JS and have a project to find the index of an array element, without using indexOf built in function. I have tried to search for solutions, but all I get are examples of the aforementioned built in function, which I already know how to use. Can anyone provide a simple example for me to go on? My mind goes towards something like this, but please note I am new to this and it is an academic exercise that I really want to understand:

var index;
var target = 10;
for(var val in collection){
 if(collection[val] === target){
 index = val;
 }
 return index;
}

• brso05: Loop through the array until you find the value then return index...
• rdans: your own attempt looks good except that you need to move "return index;" to the last line - outside of the loop.
• Liam: Your return is in the wrong place, you want it after your for loop
• brso05: His return is fine it can be in the loop he just needs to move it in the if statement.
• Matt Burland: If collection is actually an array, don't use for...in, use a regular loop for (var i =0; i < collection.length; i++). Then in the body of your loop check if collection[i] == target and if so return i.

Answer 1

This attempt is almost correct. You seem to already understand of what is required: loop over the elements of the array until you find a match, and then return the index of that match.

You've made a few mistakes, though. Let's walk through some improvements, step by step.

• Your return statement is inside the loop, but outside of the if. You only want to return if you're found a match. Currently, you always return after the first iteration of the loop!

  function myIndexOf(collection, target) {
   var index;
   for(var val in collection){
   if(collection[val] === target){
   index = val;
   return index;
   }
   }
  }
  

• There is no need for a separate index variable. You can return val as soon as you determine it's the correct answer.

  function myIndexOf(collection, target) {
   for(var val in collection){
   if(collection[val] === target){
   return val;
   }
   }
  }
  

• You should loop using a numeric for loop, not a for-in loop. for-in loops are not guaranteed to have a set order, so you may not always get the lowest index that is a match. (Also, for-in could match on non-numeric property names, which might not be what you want.)

  function myIndexOf(collection, target) {
   for(var val=0; val<collection.length; val++){
   if(collection[val] === target){
   return val;
   }
   }
  }
  

• To act just like indexOf, you could return -1 in the case that you don't find a match.

  function myIndexOf(collection, target) {
   for(var val=0; val<collection.length; val++){
   if(collection[val] === target){
   return val;
   }
   }
   return -1;
  }
  

• Anuj K.C.: What about target is a word.

Answer 2

Note: for..in should not be used to iterate over an Array where the index order is important.

for..in - JavaScript | MDN

var find_index = function(collection, item) {
 for (var i = 0; i < collection.length; ++i) {
 if (collection[i] === item) {
 return i;
 }
 }
};
find_index([5,4,3,2,1], 5)

• greenhoorn: Please provide some explanation since the OP is new to javascript. +1 anyways.

Answer 3

When looping through an array you should use a simple for loop from index 0 to Length-1 of your array. Don't use for...in because it can iterate properties of the array that aren't the actual contents of the cells and the order is not guaranteed. You want to find the first match to have the same behavior as .indexOf. So the correct implementation would look something like this:

function myIndexOf(array, target) {
 for (var i=0; i < array.length; i++) {
 if (array[i] === target) {
 return i;
 }
 }
 // item was not found
 return -1;
}

Answer 4

You can use in statement to iterate an array, assumings keys are values. Here val will be 0, 1, 2... so you can return it.

Then, you can use the return inside the if : it will stop the function and return the value just right you find what you are loonking for.

The === is the strict comparaison operator, checking var type, allowing you to test this is the exact value you are looking for.

You can add a return with an other value (here -1) if the value is not found at the end of the loop.

function myIndexOf(array, search) {
 for(var val in array){
 if(array[val] === search){
 return val;
 }
 }
 return -1;
}
var myArray = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
console.log(myIndexOf(myArray, 'c')); //2
console.log(myIndexOf(myArray, 'f')); //-1 <- Not found

Answer 5

This would work:

var index = 0;
var target = 'c';
var collection = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd'];
function findIndex(){
 for(var val in collection) {
 if(collection[val] === target){
 return index;
 }
 index++;
 }
}
findIndex();

Answer 6

You can use every as well. Iterate through the array, return true if value doesn't match value being searched so every continues, otherwise set ind and return false.

var getIndex = function(arr, match){
 var ind = -1;
 arr.every(function(val, index) {
 if (val === match){
 ind = index;
 return false;
 }
 return true;
 });
 return ind;
}
getIndex([1, 2, 3], 2);