Is there a faster way to find any name in namesArray?

Question

Can I find a required name without loop through each array item? Is there any faster way to do the same assuming that I have a very big array length, because if I have an array of 10000 items and the name doesn't exist in it, it will be a waste of time and assuming that we don't have inclouds function

$(document).ready(function() {
  function binarySearch(names, requiredName) {
    for (var i = 0; i < names.length; i++) {
      if (names[i] === requiredName) {
        return true;
      }
    }
    return false;
  }
  console.log(binarySearch(['ola', 'amer', 'anwar', 'mamon'], 'hadeel'));
});

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>

[Array#includes](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array/includes) — Durga, May 11 '18 at 06:58
for searching you have to use this only there is no option for an array to use a lamda expression. — imdisney, May 11 '18 at 06:59
but you can use a trick way to do this ..but that is not a good way but it will give you the result in one line — imdisney, May 11 '18 at 07:00
convert your array to string then use Contains your name it will give you the a boolean value if it is there it will give you true or flase — imdisney, May 11 '18 at 07:06
@imdisney No need to convert to string and then check. And the doc for [contains](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String/includes#String.prototype.contains) — Durga, May 11 '18 at 07:08
if he want to do fast then it can happen with it i have tried as well so dont worry — imdisney, May 11 '18 at 07:10
Instead of using an array, one can use an object for name lookup. One can also use `Map` or `Set`. — Hassan Imam, May 11 '18 at 07:40

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered May 11 '18 at 07:03

0

You can use the Array#includes function like this.

names.includes(requiredName)

If you want to know exactly WHERE the item is located you need to iterate like you already did.

answered May 11 '18 at 07:03

jdickel

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Flag as duplicate. – Durga May 11 '18 at 07:04
1

*If you want to know exactly WHERE the item is located* for this can use `indexOf` – Durga May 11 '18 at 07:06
This only works if the name is unique, otherwise it just gives the Index of the first occurance. BTW there is Nö duplicate – jdickel May 11 '18 at 07:11
assume that theirs no includes or indexOf – ali amer May 11 '18 at 07:18

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 11 '18 at 07:36

You can use

var array = ["foo", "bar", "baz"];
var search = "foo"; 

// using the ES6 some function
var includes = array.some(val => val == search);
console.log(includes);

// using the find function
var found = array.find(val => val == search);
console.log(!!found); // or found != null

but the simplest way is indexOf or includes (but doens't have full browser support yet)

Is there a faster way to find any name in namesArray?

2 Answers2