How to split strings inside of an array in JavaScript (to get first names from full names)

Question

My assignment is to print the first names of all individuals from a data set that fit a specific category; however, the data set is an array of objects that provides the full name as a string, e.g.:

var dataSet = [ 
    {
        "name": "John Doe",
        "age": 60,
        "math": 97,
        "english": 63,
        "yearsOfEducation": 4
    },
    {
        "name": "Jane Doe",
        "age": 55,
        "math": 72,
        "english": 96,
        "yearsOfEducation": 10
    }
]

I cannot use any array type built-in functions except filter(), map(), and reduce().

The last chunk of my code (to get names from the array of objects "dataSet") looks like:

var youngGoodMath = dataSet.filter(function(person){
    return person.age < avgAge && person.math > avgMath;
  });

  var yGMname = youngGoodMath.map(function (person){
    return person.name;
  });

console.log(yGMname);

which produces an array of strings that looks something like:

["Jane Doe", "John Doe", "Harry Potter", "Hermione Granger"]

I need to find a way to produce:

["Jane", "John", "Harry", "Hermione"]

I suspect the answer lies in using .forEach and .Split(), but haven't been able to crack it yet...

Split on space, return first element ... return person.name.split(' ')[0] — charlietfl
– charlietfl, Commented Apr 8, 2019 at 16:20
When I first started programming, Jane was about 23 :D Thanks for keeping their age current lol — Bekim Bacaj
– Bekim Bacaj, Commented Apr 8, 2019 at 17:01

Shidersz · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-08 16:38:07Z

2

You can use Array.map() and String.split() to solve this. Basically, you need to map every fullname to the first name, so using split by space character on every fullname we can get an array of names, and the first element of that array will be the first name.

const input = ["Jane Doe", "John Doe", "Harry Potter", "Hermione Granger"];

let res =  input.map(name =>
{
    [first, ...rest] = name.split(" ");
    return first;
});

console.log(res);

.as-console {background-color:black !important; color:lime;}
.as-console-wrapper {max-height:100% !important; top:0;}

Another alternative is to use String.match() with a positive lookahead regular expression, i.e, match a starting sequence of characters that are followed by a space.

const input = ["Jane Doe", "John Doe", "Harry Potter", "Hermione Granger"];
let res =  input.map(name => name.match(/^.*(?=\s)/)[0]);
console.log(res);

.as-console {background-color:black !important; color:lime;}
.as-console-wrapper {max-height:100% !important; top:0;}

edited Apr 8, 2019 at 16:38

answered Apr 8, 2019 at 16:21

Shidersz

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1 Comment

Nino Filiu Over a year ago

One-liner: input.map(x => x.split(' ')[0])

G. Tudor · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-08 16:23:46Z

0

In your map function try var names = person.name.split(" "); and return names[0];

answered Apr 8, 2019 at 16:23

G. Tudor

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1 Comment

t . Over a year ago

That does it! @charlietfl said the same thing slightly rephrased above in the comments: "Split on space, return first element ... return person.name.split(' ')[0]" Both work great.

Bekim Bacaj · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-08 16:43:10Z

0

in case you are allowed to use the forEach property, you might want to:

dataSet.forEach( function( x ) { console.log( x.name.match( /\w+/)+"" ) } );

otherwise you'll have to learn how to use the while loop.

answered Apr 8, 2019 at 16:43

Bekim Bacaj

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