Mapping Values

It is often necessary to generate a new array based on the values of an existing array.

For example, to generate an array of string lengths from an array of strings:

Version ≥ 5.1

['one', 'two', 'three', 'four'].map(function(value, index, arr) { return value.length;
});
// → [3, 3, 5, 4]

Version ≥ 6

 ['one', 'two', 'three', 'four'].map(value => value.length); // → [3, 3, 5, 4]

In this example, an anonymous function is provided to the map() function, and the map function will call it for every element in the array, providing the following parameters, in this order:

• The element itself
• The index of the element (0, 1...)
• The entire array

Additionally, map() provides an optional second parameter in order to set the value of this in the mapping function. Depending on the execution environment, the default value of this might vary:

In a browser, the default value of this is always window:

['one', 'two'].map(function(value, index, arr) { console.log(this); // window (the default value in browsers) return value.length;
});

You can change it to any custom object like this:

['one', 'two'].map(function(value, index, arr) { 
    console.log(this); // Object { documentation: "randomObject" } 
    return value.length;
}, {
  documentation: 'randomObject'
});