JavaScript array reduce start from index

Question

This problem has been bugging me for a while now and I can't seem to find an answer in web.

Is it possible to use Array reduce method starting from a certain index?

simple example

var studentGrades = ["John Doe", "Some School", 6, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9];

If I need to loop over only integers in studentGrades, I can do that with a simple for loop

for(var i = 2; i < studentGrades.length; i++) {
  // do stuff here ...
}

But let's say I would need get an average grade which is sum of all integers divided by integers count. If Array contained only integers, then there would be no problem using reduce.

var onlyIntegersArr = [5,2,3,4];
var averageGrade = onlyIntegersArr.reduce(function(a,b){
  return a + b;
}) / onlyIntegersArr.length;

However if I know that for whatever reasons I need to skip the first two Array elements and start from index Array[2].

So for example I would apply reduce to studentGrades, but only starting from index studentGrades[2].

Is that possible with reduce?

Thank you for solutions, I like slice approach, but I prefer not using a new method in this case.

e.g.

var average = studentGrades.reduce(function(a,b,i){
  return i >= 2 ? a+b : 0;
}) / (studentGrades.length - 2);

`array.slice(2).reduce(...` – Jaromanda X Jan 27 '16 at 09:57 — Jaromanda X, Jan 27 '16 at 09:57

score 16 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 27 '16 at 10:17

16

reduce's 3rd argument is an index, here is the fiddle

var averageGrade = onlyIntegersArr.reduce(function (a, b, c) {
    if (c >= 2) {
        return a + b;
    } else {
        return 0;
    }
});

if array has more non-numeric items after second index then check this fiddle

var studentGrades = ["John Doe", "Some School", 6, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9, "Some School"];
var averageGrade = studentGrades.reduce(function (a, b, c) {
    if (c >= 2 && !isNaN(b)) {
        return a + b;
    } else if (c >= 2) {
        return a + 0;
    } else {
        return 0;
    }
})
alert(averageGrade);

edited Jan 27 '16 at 10:17

Tushar

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answered Jan 27 '16 at 09:58

gurvinder372

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1

It will fail for this: `var studentGrades = ["John Doe", "Some School", 6, 7,'test'];` – Rayon Jan 27 '16 at 10:02
1

@RayonDabre true, but that is not what OP is asking. Anyways, let me put a check for isNaN also if OP has asked for it. – gurvinder372 Jan 27 '16 at 10:03
I will accept this solution as it fits my problem most. I don't need to use a new array method, but instead just use the index parameter in reduce method. I had somehow overlooked it. – JanisSt Jan 27 '16 at 10:12
1

I like shorter solutions, like `onlyIntegersArr.reduce((a, b, c) => (c >= 2 ? a + b : 0))` – Tushar Jan 27 '16 at 10:18
1

I agree, but I like this solution as it's the only one pointing out to use reduce index argument. – JanisSt Jan 27 '16 at 10:21
@Tushar Thanks for the editing and making it more concise and readable. – gurvinder372 Jan 27 '16 at 10:23

score 11 · Answer 2 · edited Jan 27 '16 at 10:06

If you know for a fact that you want to skip the first n elements, you can use Array#slice

Using ES2015 Arrow Function

var sum = array.slice(n).reduce((a, b) => a + b);

var studentGrades = ["John Doe", "Some School", 6, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9];
var sum = studentGrades.slice(2).reduce((a, b) => a + b);

document.body.innerHTML = 'SUM is = ' + sum;

In ES5, the same code can be written using anonymous function.

var sum = array.slice(n).reduce(function(a, b) {
    return a + b;
});

var studentGrades = ["John Doe", "Some School", 6, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9];
var sum = studentGrades.slice(2).reduce(function(a, b) {
    return a + b;
});

document.body.innerHTML = 'SUM is = ' + sum;

for the case you mentioned, of only adding up numeric values, regardless of where in the array they are - you could do something like

var sum = array.reduce(function(result, v) {
    return result + (parseFloat(v) || 0);
}, 0);

var studentGrades = ["John Doe", "Some School", 6, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9];
var sum = studentGrades.reduce(function(result, v) {
    return result + (parseFloat(v) || 0);
}, 0);

document.body.innerHTML = 'SUM is = ' + sum;

@fast, yes, it does, a problem for sure if you have billions of elements — Jaromanda X, Jan 27 '16 at 10:04
kudos to @Tushar for the hard work he put in to editing the answer to make it look and read so good — Jaromanda X, Jan 27 '16 at 11:26

mavili · Answer 3 · 2016-01-27T10:07:53.607

If you're sure you always need only index 2 onwards, then this is sufficient

var onlyIntegersArr = studentGrades.slice(2);
var averageGrade = onlyIntegersArr.reduce(function(a,b){
    return a + b;
}) / onlyIntegersArr.length;

If, however, you want to get all integers, then you need to filter the array

var onlyIntegersArr = studentGrades.filter(function(val) {
    return (val === parseInt(val, 10));
});
var averageGrade = onlyIntegersArr.reduce(function(a,b){
    return a + b;
}) / onlyIntegersArr.length;

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 27 '16 at 10:09

Why do you overcomplicate things? Why not:

function avg(arr)
{
     var sum = 0;
     var l = 0;
     for(var i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
     {
        if(isNaN(1*arr[i])) continue;
        sum += arr[i];
        l++;
     }
     return sum/l;
}

Maybe you need to think about keeping the data in object, where all the grades are in a separate array. And other data be in properties. You can serialize it from the array you have, and then work with the object.

JavaScript array reduce start from index

4 Answers4