Check If a Variable Is an Array in JavaScript



To check if a variable is an array in Javascript is essential to handle data appropriately. We will discuss three different approaches to check if a variable is an array or not.

We are having an array and a string, and our task is to check if a variable is an array in JavaScript.

Approaches to Check if a Variable is an Array

Here is a list of approaches to check if a variable is an array in JavaScript which we will be discussing in this article with stepwise explaination and complete example codes.

Using isArray() Method

To check if a variable is an array in JavaScript, we have used isArray() method. It returns a boolean value as result, either true or false.

  • We have used two div elements to display the array and output using getElementById() and innerHTML property. We have also added a button which triggers checkArray() function upon clicking.
  • We have initialized and stored an array in arr and a string in variable str.
  • Then we have used isArray() method on both, array and string and stored this result in res1 and res2 respectively.

Example

Here is a complete example code implementing above mentioned steps to check if a variable is an array in JavaScript using isArray() method.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <title>
        To Check if a Variable is an Array in JavaScript
    </title>
</head>
<body>
    <h2>
        To Check if a Variable is an Array in JavaScript
    </h2>
    <p>
        In this article, we have used <strong>isArray()</strong>
        method to check if a variable is an array in JavaScript.
    </p>
    <button onclick="checkArray()">Check</button>
    <br><br>
    <div id="array"></div>
    <div id="result"></div>
    <script>
        let arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
        let str = "Tutorialspoint";
        document.getElementById('array')
            .innerHTML= "Variable: " +arr +"<br>"
                        +"Variable: " +str;
        function checkArray() {
            let res1 = Array.isArray(arr);
            let res2 = Array.isArray(str);
            document.getElementById("result")
                .innerHTML = "Is it array?: " +"<br>" +res1 
                                              +"<br>" +res2;
        }
    </script>
</body>
</html>

Using instanceof Operator

In this approach we have used instanceof Array operator to check if a variable is an array in JavaScript.

  • We have used two div elements to display the array and output using getElementById() and innerHTML property. We have also added a button which triggers checkArray() function upon clicking.
  • We have initialized and stored an array in arr and a string in variable str.
  • Then we have used instanceof Array operator on both, array and string and stored this result in res1 and res2 respectively.

Example

Here is a complete example code implementing above mentioned steps to check if a variable is an array in JavaScript using instanceof operator.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <title>
        To Check if a Variable is an Array in JavaScript
    </title>
</head>
<body>
    <h2>
        To Check if a Variable is an Array in JavaScript
    </h2>
    <p>
        In this article, we have used <strong>instanceof</strong>
        operator to check if a variable is an array in JavaScript.
    </p>
    <button onclick="checkArray()">Check</button>
    <br><br>
    <div id="array"></div>
    <div id="result"></div>
    <script>
        let arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
        let str = "Tutorialspoint";
        document.getElementById('array')
            .innerHTML= "Variable: " +arr +"<br>"
                        +"Variable: " +str;
        function checkArray() {
            let res1 = arr instanceof Array;
            let res2 = str instanceof Array;
            document.getElementById("result")
                .innerHTML = "Is it array?: " +"<br>" +res1 
                                              +"<br>" +res2;
        }
    </script>
</body>
</html>

Checking constructor Property of Variable

In this approach to check if a variable is an array in JavaScript we have checked constructor property of variable.

  • We have used two div elements to display the array and output using getElementById() and innerHTML property. We have also added a button which triggers checkArray() function upon clicking.
  • We have initialized and stored an array in arr and a string in variable str.
  • Then we have checked the constructor property of array and string using arr.constructor === Array and str.constructor === Array; and stored this result in res1 and res2 respectively.

Example

Here is a complete example code implementing above mentioned steps to check if a variable is an array in JavaScript by checking constructor property of variable. It displays true when the variable is same as what we specified.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <title>
        To Check if a Variable is an Array in JavaScript
    </title>
</head>
<body>
    <h2>
        To Check if a Variable is an Array in JavaScript
    </h2>
    <p>
        In this article, we have used <strong>constructor</strong>
        property of variable to check if a variable is an array 
        in JavaScript.
    </p>
    <button onclick="checkArray()">Check</button>
    <br><br>
    <div id="array"></div>
    <div id="result"></div>
    <script>
        let arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
        let str = "Tutorialspoint";
        document.getElementById('array')
            .innerHTML= "Variable: " +arr +"<br>"
                        +"Variable: " +str;
        function checkArray() {
            let res1 = arr.constructor === Array;
            let res2 = str.constructor === Array;
            document.getElementById("result")
                .innerHTML = "Is it array?: " +"<br>" +res1 
                                              +"<br>" +res2;
        }
    </script>
</body>
</html>

Conclusion

In this article we discussed how check if a variable is an array in JavaScript using three different approaches which are: by using isArray() method, instanceof operator and by checking constructor property of variable.

Updated on: 2024-11-20T17:11:18+05:30

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