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Convert String to Array JavaScript |split, Separator, Regex, JSON.parse

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How can I convert a string to a JavaScript array?

You can use JSON.parse or .split() method to convert String to Array JavaScript. JavaScript’s string split method returns an array of substrings obtained by splitting a string on a separator you specify.

The separator can be a string or regular expression or special char like a comma.

Examples of String to Array JS

Let’s see some basic and simple examples.

Using the split method

Example of convert comma separated string to array javascript.

Note: If you don’t pass any separator argument to the split method, the resulting array will have a single element consisting of the entire string:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <script>
    	var alpha = "A, B, C, D, E";
		var ar = alpha.split(', '); // split string on comma space
		console.log( ar );

    </script>
  </head>   

</html>

Output:

convert comma separated string to array javascript

Using use JSON.parse way

This way only work with number, below example gives you an Array of numbers.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <script>
    	var alpha = "1, 2, 3, 4, 5";
		var array = JSON.parse("[" + alpha + "]");
		console.log( array );

    </script>
  </head>   

</html>

Output:

Convert String to Array JavaScript

String by a specific character

var string = 'split-by-dash';

var usingSplit = string.split('-');
// [ 'split', 'by', 'dash' ]

Empty String Separator

If passed empty string as a separator, each character in the string will become an element in the array:

var str = 'abode';
var ar = str.split(''); // empty string separator
console.log( ar ); // [ "a", "b", "c", "d" ]

Regular Expression Separator:

var str = 'favorite desserts: brownies, banana bread, ice cream, chocolate chip cookies';
// regular expression separator
var re = /:\s|,\s/; // split on colon space or comma space
var ar = str.split(re);
console.log( ar );
// [ "favorite desserts", "brownies", "banana bread", "ice cream", "chocolate chip cookies" ]

Q: How to convert string to array javascript without split method?

Answer: If you want do it manually, without any JavaScript methods. Try the below code using a for loop.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <script>

    	var str = "STRING";
		var arr = [];
		var i=0;

		for(i; i<=str.length; i++){
        	arr[i] = str.charAt(i);
		}

		console.log( arr );

    </script>
  </head>   

</html>
convert string to array javascript without split method

Do comment if you have any questions and suggestions on this tutorial.

Note: The All JS Examples codes are tested on the Safari browser (Version 12.0.2) and Chrome.
OS: macOS 10.14 Mojave
Code: HTML 5 Version

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