Q8: Implement a polyfill for Array.prototype.find().
Answer
The find() method returns the first array element for which the callback returns a truthy value. If no element matches, it returns undefined.
Unlike map(), filter(), and forEach(), find() invokes the callback for every index below the captured length, including holes in sparse arrays. A hole is read as undefined.
Array.prototype.myFind = function (callback, thisArg) {
if (this == null) {
throw new TypeError("Array.prototype.myFind called on null or undefined");
}
if (typeof callback !== "function") {
throw new TypeError("Callback must be a function");
}
const array = Object(this);
const length = array.length >>> 0;
for (let i = 0; i < length; i++) {
const value = array[i];
if (callback.call(thisArg, value, i, array)) {
return value;
}
}
return undefined;
};
console.log([5, 12, 8, 130].myFind(n => n > 10));
// 12
Explanation
The loop stops immediately when a matching element is found. Returning from the function avoids unnecessary callback executions.
Key Takeaways
- Find returns the first matching value, not an array.
- Unlike several other array iteration methods, find visits sparse-array indexes as undefined.