how to use inArray() to find string in array element if string is surrounded by other characters

Question

How would I search an array using inArray() for a value and return true even if that value is surrounded by other characters. Here is the code I have (med is my array, it goes med[1-10]):

alprazolamlog = $.inArray('alprazolam', med) > -1;
xanaxlog = $.inArray('xanax', med) > -1;
if (alprazolamlog==true) {
    $("#xanax").css("display", "block");
} else if (xanaxlog==true) {
    $("#xanax").css("display", "block");
}

It returns true if the array element is "xanax" or "alprazolam". But if a user enters "xanax xr" or "alprazolam er" it will return false. Is there any way to search for string "xanax" or "alprazolam" at any point in that particular array element, even if there are other characters in that particular array element, and to return true in this case?

jfriend00 · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-01 06:18:15Z

1

You can't use $.inArray() if you're looking for a partial match. It just doesn't work that way. Instead, you can just iterate the array yourself and do whatever kind of match against each element of the array that you want.

There's no magic to $.inArray(). It's just a shortcut for finding an exact value in an array, but if that shortcut isn't exactly what you want, then just do your own iteration and your own type of comparison.

For example:

function findPartialStrInArray(array, target) {
    for (var i = 0; i < array.length; i++) {
        var item = array[i];
        // if this array element is a string and contains the target string
        if (typeof item === "string" && item.indexOf(target) !== -1) {
            return i;
        }
    }
    return -1;
}

var alprazolamlog = findPartialStrInArray(med, 'alprazolam') > -1;
var xanaxlog = findPartialStrInArray(med, 'xanax') > -1;

edited Aug 1, 2014 at 6:18

answered Aug 1, 2014 at 5:55

jfriend00

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3 Comments

user3898186 Over a year ago

By iterate do you mean something like using a for loop and doing a comparison through each element?

jfriend00 Over a year ago

@user3898186 - To iterate over an array, you can either use a for loop or the .forEach() method on the array. See the example I added to my answer.

user3898186 Over a year ago

Thank you! Looks great, I will give it a shot after work today

Dwza · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-01 06:33:59Z

0

try this

var search_pattern = /llo/;
var data = ['foo', 'bar', 'hello world', 'im in an array'];    
$.each(data, function(i, item) {
    if(item.match(search_pattern))
        console.log(item) 
});

you could also just break the foreach after getting one positiv result or return the position in array with return i;

answered Aug 1, 2014 at 6:33

Dwza

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