Discovering the most concise string within the array

Question

Discovering the most concise string within the array

I've been working on a JavaScript program function that is supposed to return the smallest string in an array, but I keep encountering an error whenever I run it.

Below is the code I have written:

function findShortestWordAmongMixedElements(arr) {

  let shortest = '';

  if (arr.length > 0) {
    for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
      if (typeof arr[i] === 'string' && arr[i].length < shortest.length) {
        shortest = arr[i];
      }
    }
  }
}
return shortest;
}

var output = findShortestWordAmongMixedElements([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(output); // --> 'two'

Do you have any insights into what might be causing my code to fail?

PS. If there are no strings in the given array, the function should return an empty string.

javascript

Answer 1

Answer №1

Your code contains multiple errors that need to be addressed. The return statement is placed incorrectly, and the logic for finding the shortest string is flawed. To fix this issue, consider setting the initial shortest length to Infinity and then comparing against shorter string lengths.

function findShortestWordAmongMixedElements(arr) {
    let shortLength = Infinity;
    let shortest = "";

    if (arr.length > 0) {
        for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
            if (typeof arr[i] === 'string' && arr[i].length < shortLength) {
                shortest = arr[i];
                shortLength = arr[i].length;
            }
        }
    }

    return shortest;
}

var output = findShortestWordAmongMixedElements([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(output); // --> 'two'

Answer 2

Your code contains multiple errors that need to be addressed. The return statement is placed incorrectly, and the logic for finding the shortest string is flawed. To fix this issue, consider setting the initial shortest length to Infinity and then comparing against shorter string lengths.

function findShortestWordAmongMixedElements(arr) {
    let shortLength = Infinity;
    let shortest = "";

    if (arr.length > 0) {
        for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
            if (typeof arr[i] === 'string' && arr[i].length < shortLength) {
                shortest = arr[i];
                shortLength = arr[i].length;
            }
        }
    }

    return shortest;
}

var output = findShortestWordAmongMixedElements([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(output); // --> 'two'

Answer 3

Answer №2

Here is an improved version of the logic you provided. The updated implementation involves filtering out string arrays, sorting them based on string length, and finally returning the first element.

function findShortestWordAmongMixedElements(arr) {
    let strings = arr.filter( x => typeof x === "string" )
    .sort((a, b) => a.length - b.length);
    
    // When using arr.filter, only elements that are strings are returned
    // Using arr.sort sorts the elements by their string lengths. The function then returns the smallest element which is the first one
    
    return strings[0];
}

var output = findShortestWordAmongMixedElements([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(output);

Answer 4

Here is an improved version of the logic you provided. The updated implementation involves filtering out string arrays, sorting them based on string length, and finally returning the first element.

function findShortestWordAmongMixedElements(arr) {
    let strings = arr.filter( x => typeof x === "string" )
    .sort((a, b) => a.length - b.length);
    
    // When using arr.filter, only elements that are strings are returned
    // Using arr.sort sorts the elements by their string lengths. The function then returns the smallest element which is the first one
    
    return strings[0];
}

var output = findShortestWordAmongMixedElements([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(output);

Answer 5

Answer №3

There are actually a couple of issues to address:

The return statement is placed outside the function definition.
In the comments section, it has been pointed out that initializing the variable shortest with an empty string '' prevents it from being assigned a new value.

function findShortestWordAmongMixedElements(arr) {

  let shortest = undefined;

  if (arr.length > 0) {
    for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
      if (typeof arr[i] === 'string' && (shortest == undefined || arr[i].length < shortest.length )) {
        shortest = arr[i];
      }
    }
  }

  return shortest;
}


var output = findShortestWordAmongMixedElements([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(output); // --> 'two'

Answer 6

There are actually a couple of issues to address:

The return statement is placed outside the function definition.
In the comments section, it has been pointed out that initializing the variable shortest with an empty string '' prevents it from being assigned a new value.

function findShortestWordAmongMixedElements(arr) {

  let shortest = undefined;

  if (arr.length > 0) {
    for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
      if (typeof arr[i] === 'string' && (shortest == undefined || arr[i].length < shortest.length )) {
        shortest = arr[i];
      }
    }
  }

  return shortest;
}


var output = findShortestWordAmongMixedElements([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(output); // --> 'two'

Answer 7

Answer №4

I think this solution will do the trick

function findShortestStringInArray(arr) {

    let shortestStr = null;

    if(arr.length > 0){
        for(let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++){
           if(typeof arr[i] === 'string'){
                if(shortestStr == null)
                    shortestStr = arr[i];
                else if(arr[i].length < shortestStr.length){
                    shortestStr = arr[i];
                }
            }
        }
    }
    return shortestStr;
}
var output = findShortestStringInArray([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(output); // --> 'two'

Answer 8

I think this solution will do the trick

function findShortestStringInArray(arr) {

    let shortestStr = null;

    if(arr.length > 0){
        for(let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++){
           if(typeof arr[i] === 'string'){
                if(shortestStr == null)
                    shortestStr = arr[i];
                else if(arr[i].length < shortestStr.length){
                    shortestStr = arr[i];
                }
            }
        }
    }
    return shortestStr;
}
var output = findShortestStringInArray([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(output); // --> 'two'

Answer 9

Answer №5

Check out this custom function that locates the tiniest string:

function identifyShortestStringInArray(arr) {

    let shortestStr = '';

       if(arr.length > 0){
         for(let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++){
           if(typeof arr[i] === 'string')
             {
               if(shortestStr.length == 0) {
                   shortestStr = arr[i]; continue;
               } 
               
               if(arr[i].length < shortestStr.length){
                   shortestStr = arr[i]; 
               }
              
            }
          }
         }
          return shortestStr; 

       }
       
       var result = identifyShortestStringInArray([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(result);

Answer 10

Check out this custom function that locates the tiniest string:

function identifyShortestStringInArray(arr) {

    let shortestStr = '';

       if(arr.length > 0){
         for(let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++){
           if(typeof arr[i] === 'string')
             {
               if(shortestStr.length == 0) {
                   shortestStr = arr[i]; continue;
               } 
               
               if(arr[i].length < shortestStr.length){
                   shortestStr = arr[i]; 
               }
              
            }
          }
         }
          return shortestStr; 

       }
       
       var result = identifyShortestStringInArray([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(result);

Answer 11

Answer №6

If you want to simplify the process, you can filter out the array first and then use reduce method:

function findShortestWordAmongMixedElements(arr) {
  return arr.filter(el => typeof el === 'string')
    .reduce((shortest, str) => str.length < shortest.length ? str : shortest);
}

var result = findShortestWordAmongMixedElements([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(result); // --> 'two'

Answer 12

If you want to simplify the process, you can filter out the array first and then use reduce method:

function findShortestWordAmongMixedElements(arr) {
  return arr.filter(el => typeof el === 'string')
    .reduce((shortest, str) => str.length < shortest.length ? str : shortest);
}

var result = findShortestWordAmongMixedElements([4, 'two', 2, 'three']);
console.log(result); // --> 'two'

Answer 13

Answer №7

function smallestFriend(arr) {
    var small = arr[0];
    for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
        var name = arr[i];
        if (small.length > name.length) {
            small = name;
        }
    }
    return small;
}

var group = ["Ali", "Sara", "Joe", "Lee", "Kim"]
var tinyBuddy = smallestFriend(group)

console.log("No.4: Your smallest friend is", tinyBuddy)

for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
    var element = arr[i];
    if (small.length > element.length) {
        small = element;
    }
}
return small;

}

Answer 14

function smallestFriend(arr) {
    var small = arr[0];
    for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
        var name = arr[i];
        if (small.length > name.length) {
            small = name;
        }
    }
    return small;
}

var group = ["Ali", "Sara", "Joe", "Lee", "Kim"]
var tinyBuddy = smallestFriend(group)

console.log("No.4: Your smallest friend is", tinyBuddy)

for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
    var element = arr[i];
    if (small.length > element.length) {
        small = element;
    }
}
return small;

}

Answer 15

Answer №8

 function findTiny(arr){
            var t = arr[0];
             for (let j = 0; j < arr.length; j++) {
                const item = arr[j];
                    if( t.length > item.length){
                        t = item
                        }
                             }
                            return t
                                }

                var  group = ["john","lisa","david","sam","kate"]
                var smallOne = findTiny(group)
                console.log(smallOne)

Answer 16

 function findTiny(arr){
            var t = arr[0];
             for (let j = 0; j < arr.length; j++) {
                const item = arr[j];
                    if( t.length > item.length){
                        t = item
                        }
                             }
                            return t
                                }

                var  group = ["john","lisa","david","sam","kate"]
                var smallOne = findTiny(group)
                console.log(smallOne)

Discovering the most concise string within the array

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

Answer №5

Answer №6

Answer №7

Answer №8

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