Mastering Array Operations in JavaScript: Differences and More
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Chapter 1: Understanding Array Differences
In this chapter, we delve into how to compute the differences between two arrays in JavaScript, exploring fundamental set operations such as the difference (A B), intersection (A ∩ B), union (A ∪ B), symmetric difference (A Δ B), and even the Cartesian product (A × B).
Today's discussion revolves around set theory, where we aim to identify the difference between two arrays. This task is straightforward, and we will also touch on how to compute intersections and geometric differences.
The Problem: Implementing Array.diff()
The objective of the challenge is to create a function that computes the difference between two arrays, removing all values from array A that are present in array B while maintaining the order of elements. For instance, array_diff([1, 2], [1]) should return [2].
If an element in array A appears in array B, all its occurrences must be eliminated from A. For example, array_diff([1, 2, 2, 2, 3], [2]) yields [1, 3].
To begin, let's refer to the Wikipedia definition of the difference between sets:
Given two sets A and B, the set difference A B (also denoted as A − B) consists of all elements that belong to A but not to B. Particularly, when B is a subset of A, this is referred to as the relative complement of B in A.
We can derive an algorithm from this definition:
- For each element in A, check if it exists in B.
- If the element is not in B, retain it.
- If the element is in B, remove it from A.
This can be elegantly expressed as filtering every element of A that does not belong to B. The following code achieves this using the Array.filter() method along with Array.includes():
export const arrayDiff = (a: number[], b: number[]): number[] =>
a.filter((x) => !b.includes(x));
Array Intersection: Identifying Common Elements
After addressing the basic difference, we can also examine how to find the intersection of two arrays. The intersection A ∩ B consists of elements that are present in both arrays.
We can express this algorithm similarly:
- For each element in A, check if it is found in B.
- If it is in B, retain it; otherwise, remove it.
This logic can be implemented as follows:
export const arrayIntersect = (a: number[], b: number[]): number[] =>
a.filter((x) => b.includes(x));
Array Union: Combining Two Sets
Joining two sets is another common operation. The union A ∪ B represents all elements that are members of either A, B, or both.
The Array.concat() method provides a simple way to achieve this:
export const arrayUnion = (a: number[], b: number[]): number[] =>
a.concat(b);
Symmetric Difference: Elements in Either Set, but Not Both
The symmetric difference A Δ B includes elements that are in either A or B, but not in both. This can be expressed as:
export const arraySymDiff = (a: number[], b: number[]): number[] =>
arrayUnion(arrayDiff(a, b), arrayDiff(b, a));
Cartesian Product: All Possible Pairs
Lastly, we explore the Cartesian product A × B, which generates all ordered pairs (a, b) such that a is an element of A and b is an element of B. This can be achieved using:
export const arrayCartesian = (a: number[], b: number[]): number[][] =>
a.map((x) => b.map((y) => [x, y])).flat();
Conclusion
By implementing these functions, we can extend the capabilities of JavaScript arrays and utilize these operations effortlessly. The following prototypes allow direct application on any array:
Array.prototype.diff = function (arr2) {
return this.filter((x) => !arr2.includes(x));
};
Array.prototype.intersect = function (arr2) {
return this.filter((x) => arr2.includes(x));
};
Array.prototype.union = function (arr2) {
return this.concat(arr2);
};
Array.prototype.symDiff = function (arr2) {
return this.diff(arr2).concat(arr2.diff(this));
};
Array.prototype.cartesian = function (arr2) {
return this.reduce((p, x) => [...p, ...arr2.map((y) => [x, y])], []);
};
Additional Resources
This video provides a comprehensive guide on calculating the differences between two arrays in JavaScript, reinforcing the concepts covered here.
Watch this video to learn more about comparing arrays and extracting their differences in JavaScript, enhancing your programming skills.
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