Trying a new segment called #CodeRecipes. I want to cover questions that I often google. These are recipes that you should definitely keep handy because it’s not a matter “if” you use it, but “when” 😉

const benjamin = ['👶','👦', '👨', '👴'];

const benjaminButton = benjamin.reverse();

console.log(benjaminButton);
// ['👴', '👨', '👦', '👶']

Modifies Original Array

One thing to note is that it mutates the original array.

const originalArray = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
const newArray = originalArray.reverse();

console.log(originalArray); // [ 'c', 'b', 'a' ]
console.log(newArray); // [ 'c', 'b', 'a' ]

How to Reverse Array Without Mutating Original Array

Here are some recipes that won’t mutate the original array. Let’s take a look 👀

Using slice and reverse

const originalArray = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
const newArray = originalArray.slice().reverse();

console.log(originalArray); // ['a', 'b', 'c']
console.log(newArray); // [ 'c', 'b', 'a' ]

Using spread and reverse

const originalArray = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
const newArray = [...originalArray].reverse();

console.log(originalArray); // ['a', 'b', 'c']
console.log(newArray); // [ 'c', 'b', 'a' ]

Using reduce and spread

const originalArray = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
const newArray = originalArray.reduce((accumulator, value) => {
  return [value, ...accumulator]
}, []);

console.log(originalArray); // ['a', 'b', 'c']
console.log(newArray); // [ 'c', 'b', 'a' ]

Using reduceRight and spread

const originalArray = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
const newArray = originalArray.reduceRight((accumulator, value) => {
  console.log(value);
  return [...accumulator, value]
}, []);

console.log(originalArray); // ['a', 'b', 'c']
console.log(newArray); // [ 'c', 'b', 'a' ]

Or using push

const originalArray = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
const newArray = originalArray.reduceRight((accumulator, value) => {
  accumulator.push(value);
  return accumulator;
}, []);

console.log(originalArray); // ['a', 'b', 'c']
console.log(newArray); // [ 'c', 'b', 'a' ]

Source code and tests are available here

Resources

• MDN Web Docs: reverse
• w3schools: reverse
• Stack Overflow: Reverse array in Javascript without mutating original array

#javascript #arrays