Convert Javascript Regex Result to String(?)

Question

I extracted a string inside a parenthesis using a simple RegExp expression. I'm trying to split the result to an array.

But I am getting a "Cannot read property 'split' of null" ERROR. Which is weird because vrb1 returns (a, b).

I already tried converting vrb1 to string with toString() but It didn't work.

Could this error be because of RegExp match result? Your help is very much appreciated.

str = sample(a, b);

var regex = new RegExp("[\(]([^\)])+[\)]","g");
var vrb1 = str.match(regex);
var tmp = vrb1.split(",");
return tmp;

match returns an array (or null if no match), not a string. Use var vrb1 = str.match(regex) || [] so then you'll know vrb1 is a (possibly empty) array. — RobG
– RobG, Commented May 3, 2016 at 7:19
Also note that when using the RegExp constructor, back slashes must also be quoted, so new RegExp("[\\(]([^\\)])+[\\)]","g") or use a literal: /[\(]([^\)])+[\)]/g; — RobG
– RobG, Commented May 3, 2016 at 7:26

Marty · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-03 07:24:45Z

3

match returns an array, not a string.

Return value

array

An Array containing the entire match result and any parentheses-captured matched results, or null if there were no matches.

In your case you want something like:

if (vrb1 !== null) {
    var tmp = vrb1[0].split(',');
}

edited May 3, 2016 at 7:24

answered May 3, 2016 at 7:12

Marty

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gurvinder372 · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-03 07:30:48Z

2

match will return null if no result is found.

You need simply check for null as well.

Replace

var tmp = vrb1.split(",");

with

var tmp = vrb1 || [];

This will return an empty array if no result is found.

Edit

Looks like you are further splitting the result by comma, then try

var tmp = vrb1 ? vrb1[0].split(",") : [];

or since there are multiple results (g in your regex)

var tmp = vrb1 ? vrb1.join(",").split(",") : [];

edited May 3, 2016 at 7:30

answered May 3, 2016 at 7:10

gurvinder372

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2 Comments

RobG Over a year ago

Half way there. match returns null or an array. Arrays don't have a split method.

gurvinder372 Over a year ago

@RobG thanks, i had missed out that OP is further splitting the results by comma.

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