How to dynamically add an array to an object?

Question

What I am trying to achieve

I am trying to dynamically add an array to an object. That is, starting with

 {colour: "white", type: "electric"};

and ending with

{colour: "white", type: "electric", owners: ["person1", "person2", "person3"] };

Consider the following object below

let car = {colour: "white", type: "electric"};

If I want to add another property to this object, I can check if it exist. Then add to it as follows.

if( typeof car.status === "undefined")
 car.status = "sold";

What i have tried

Using the above logic I tried the following

let car = {
 colour: "white",
 type: "electric"
};
if (typeof car.owners === "undefined")
 car.owners.push("person1");

but this doesn't work.

The question

How do I add an array to an object?

• Andreas: By adding it: car.owners = [] (instead of using a non-existing one)
• Soura Ghosh: follow this link stackoverflow.com/questions/59693812/… you can get your answer

Answer 1

To add an array to an object, you create the array and assign it to a property:

let car = {
 colour: "white",
 type: "electric"
};
if (typeof car.owners === "undefined") {
 // vvvvvvvvvvv----- creates the array
 car.owners = ["person1"];
 // ^^^^^^^^^--- assigns it to the property
}
console.log(car);

If you want to add to that array later, you can use push. But the array has to exist first. E.g., something like:

// `person` has the person to add...
if (typeof car.owners === "undefined") {
 car.owners = [person];
} else {
 car.owners.push(person);
}

That said, it's best to avoid changing the shape of objects unnecessarily. I'd just start with an empty array and do away with the if:

let car = {
 colour: "white",
 type: "electric",
 owners: [] // <=== Empty array
};
car.owners.push("person1");
console.log(car);

Answer 2

If the status property exists in the object then u have to follow the below way

let car = {colour: "white", type: "electric",status:"somethings!"};
if(car.status){
 car.status = "sold";
}
console.log(car)
// o/p { colour: 'white', type: 'electric', status: 'sold' }

If the status property does not exist in the object

let car = {colour: "white", type: "electric"};
if(car.status){
 car.status = "sold";
}
console.log(car)
// o/p { colour: 'white', type: 'electric' }

If the Array property exists inside the object then you should follow the below sample code

let car = {colour: "white", type: "electric"};
if(car.owners && car.owners.length > 0){
 // when the owners property exist and it's not an empty array 
 car.owners.push("person1");
} else {
 // when the owners property does not exist or it's an empty array
 car.owners = [];
 car.owners.push("person2");
}
console.log(car)
// o/p { colour: 'white',type: 'electric',owners: [ 'person2' ] }

• Soura Ghosh: It's too much smart sample code rather than other sample code. It follows the ES6 version
• Personal Information: what if status was assigned to false initially in the object? wouldn't if(car.status){ car.status = "sold"; } not execute?
• Soura Ghosh: If the status is false or undefined it is not executed and output should be { colour: 'white', type: 'electric' }. My answer is most sophisticated than other answers. So, please accept my answer