Update the current value in array.prototype

Question

Update the current value in array.prototype

Recently, I've noticed that the built-in JavaScript sort function can be unreliable at times. To address this issue, I decided to create my own sorting function. Consider the following scenario:

Array.prototype.customSort = function(sortFunction, updated) {...}
var array = [5, 2, 3, 6]
array.customSort(function(a,b) {return a - b})
console.log(array)

The expected output for the sorted array should be [2, 3, 5, 6].

The 'updated' variable is used to store the correctly sorted array.

Despite trying different approaches in the customSort function, the original order of the array remains unchanged. How can I modify the 'this' value to properly reference the newly sorted array?

javascript arrays sorting prototype this

Answer 1

Answer №1

When examining the code you provided earlier, it is essential to ensure that your customSort function properly updates this.

In one scenario, if the customSort function only uses this as a "read-only" input - meaning it simply places the sorted array in updated without altering this, then no updated parameter needs to be passed for receiving the sorted values, based on the code snippet shared above.

Alternatively, if customSort returns the sorted array instead, then you must capture and store it as follows:

array = array.customSort(function(a,b) {return a - b});
console.log(array);

Answer 2

When examining the code you provided earlier, it is essential to ensure that your customSort function properly updates this.

In one scenario, if the customSort function only uses this as a "read-only" input - meaning it simply places the sorted array in updated without altering this, then no updated parameter needs to be passed for receiving the sorted values, based on the code snippet shared above.

Alternatively, if customSort returns the sorted array instead, then you must capture and store it as follows:

array = array.customSort(function(a,b) {return a - b});
console.log(array);

Answer 3

Answer №2

My approach involved iterating through the updated array and replacing each value in this with the corresponding value from updated. This can be seen in the following code snippet...

function customSort(cb) {
    ...//updated is the sorted array that has been built
    var that = this;
    _.each(updated, function (ele, index) {
        that[index] = ele;
    })
}

The goal was to mimic the behavior of the native array.sort function, which directly modifies the provided array instead of creating a new one.

I found it interesting that I could not simply overwrite the entire contents of this in one go, but had to do so incrementally. Attempting to do it directly within the customSort function failed:

this = updated;

Answer 4

My approach involved iterating through the updated array and replacing each value in this with the corresponding value from updated. This can be seen in the following code snippet...

function customSort(cb) {
    ...//updated is the sorted array that has been built
    var that = this;
    _.each(updated, function (ele, index) {
        that[index] = ele;
    })
}

The goal was to mimic the behavior of the native array.sort function, which directly modifies the provided array instead of creating a new one.

I found it interesting that I could not simply overwrite the entire contents of this in one go, but had to do so incrementally. Attempting to do it directly within the customSort function failed:

this = updated;

Update the current value in array.prototype

Answer №1

Answer №2

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