Search for entire word only when using string.includes() in Javascript

Question

I am trying to search whether a string is present inside an array of strings using the string.includes() method as shown below

var theString = "clovers are the best";
var theArray = ["lovers", "loved", "clove", "love", "clovers"];
for (i = 0; i < theArray.length; i += 1) {
  if (theString.includes(theArray[i])) {
    console.log(theArray[i]);
  }
}

The output I get includes "lovers", "clove" and "love" in addition to the expected "clovers." How can I force the search to look for entire string only?

I think you want theArray.includes(theString) with no loop. — nnnnnn
– nnnnnn, Commented Aug 2, 2016 at 2:51
Ah, but in my actual code, "theString" is actually a sentence. For example theString = "clovers are the best" — vkkodali
– vkkodali, Commented Aug 2, 2016 at 2:52
Well how about you edit your question to give a complete example? Anyway, you can do what you want using a regular expression match instead of .includes(). — nnnnnn
– nnnnnn, Commented Aug 2, 2016 at 2:53

Tibrogargan · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-02 04:01:43Z

2

You're testing each element of the array to see if the element is present in the string. You can just test the array to see if a particular string is a member, which is closer to your description of the problem.

    var theString = "clovers";
    var theArray = ["lovers", "loved", "clove", "love", "clovers"];
    var idx = theArray.findIndex( e => e === theString );
    console.log(idx);
    // finding a string done two ways
    idx = theArray.indexOf( theString );
    console.log(idx);

If idx is not -1, the string is present in the array

edited Aug 2, 2016 at 4:01

answered Aug 2, 2016 at 2:53

Tibrogargan

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3 Comments

user663031 Over a year ago

Is this different somehow from indexOf?

Tibrogargan Over a year ago

@torazaburo They do simliar things. indexOf takes a search term as an argument. findIndex takes a function. indexOf may be more appropriate in this instance since the function is a direct comparison

Pavlo Over a year ago

@Tibrogargan you should add this to the answer.

enoua5 · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-02 14:48:53Z

-1

It's returning the extras because they are a part of "clovers". My recommendation would be to split the string individual words:

var input = prompt("enter string").split(" ");
unallowed=",.()[]{}-_=+!@#$%^&*~`|\\<>?/\"':;"; //list of not allowed chars
for(i=0; i<input.length; i++)
{
    for(j=0;j<unallowed.length;j++)
    {
        input[i]=input[i].split(unallowed[j]);
        if(typeof(input[i])=="object")
            input[i]=input[i].join("");
    }
    
}
var theArray = ["lovers", "loved", "clove", "love", "clovers"];
for (i = 0; i < theArray.length; i += 1) {
  for(j=0; j<input.length; j++)
      if (input[j].toLowerCase()==theArray[i]) {
        console.log(theArray[i]);
  }
}

edit: fixed a few derps in my code.

edited Aug 2, 2016 at 14:48

answered Aug 2, 2016 at 3:09

enoua5

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2 Comments

nnnnnn Over a year ago

What if the real sentence to be tested isn't hardcoded, and might contain punctuation? E.g., "I don't like clovers, but I like oak trees and tulips."

enoua5 Over a year ago

punctuation complicates it a bit, it just needs to be removed.

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