Check if Object is empty with JavaScript/jQuery

Question

I have an object like this:

ricHistory = {
  name1: [{
    test1: value1,
    test2: value2,
    test3: value3
  }],
  name2: [{
    test1: value1,
    test2: value2,
    test3: value3
  }]
};

Now I want to check if e.g. name2 is empty with Javascript/jQuery. I know the method hasOwnProperty. It work for data.hasOwnProperty('name2') only if the name exists or not, but I have to check if its empty.

Your question asks how to check if an object is empty, yet the body of your question asks how to check if an array is empty. Please be more specific for future readers. — Jared, Aug 13 '13 at 03:28
possible duplicate of [Is object empty?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4994201/is-object-empty) — sierrasdetandil, Oct 08 '13 at 00:48
Does this answer your question? [How do I test for an empty JavaScript object?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/679915/how-do-i-test-for-an-empty-javascript-object) — mickmackusa, Aug 04 '20 at 05:50

score 77 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 20 '12 at 14:10

77

you can do this by jQuery.isEmptyObject()

Check to see if an object is empty (contains no properties).

jQuery.isEmptyObject( object )

Example:

jQuery.isEmptyObject({}) // true
jQuery.isEmptyObject({ foo: "bar" }) // false

from Jquery

answered Dec 20 '12 at 14:10

NullPoiиteя

56,591
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125
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score 14 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 06 '16 at 08:24

14

Another syntax from JQuery which is you are not using Prototype or similar and you prefer to use $ rather than jQuery prefix;

$.isEmptyObject( object )

answered Apr 06 '16 at 08:24

burakakkor

335
3
12

Minko Gechev · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-17T09:13:22.220

9

Try this:

if (ricHistory.name2 && 
    ricHistory.name2 instanceof Array &&
    !ricHistory.name2.length) {
   console.log('name2 is empty array');
} else {
   console.log('name2 does not exists or is not an empty array.');
}

The solution above will show you whether richHistory.name2 exists, is an array and it's not empty.

edited Jan 17 '13 at 09:13

answered Dec 20 '12 at 14:10

Minko Gechev

25,304
9
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68

Why not put all three checks in one, big, if? – Salman A Dec 20 '12 at 14:18

score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 20 '12 at 14:09

5

Try this useful function:

function isEmpty(obj) {
if(isSet(obj)) {
    if (obj.length && obj.length > 0) { 
        return false;
    }

    for (var key in obj) {
        if (hasOwnProperty.call(obj, key)) {
            return false;
        }
    }
}
return true;    
};

function isSet(val) {
if ((val != undefined) && (val != null)){
    return true;
}
return false;
};

answered Dec 20 '12 at 14:09

stamat

1,832
21
26

1

You could shorten `isSet` by doing this instead: `function isSet(val) { return ((val != undefined) && (val != null));}` I find it easier to just return the boolean of the statement instead of handing and then returning. – Rogala Sep 19 '13 at 20:56

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered May 04 '17 at 12:24

I go like this all the time in my code:

Assume my controller returns something like below:

$return['divostar'] = $this->report->get_additional_divostar_report($data);
$return['success'] = true;
return response()->json($return);

In Jquery, I would check like below:

if (jQuery.isEmptyObject(data.divostar)){
      html_result = "<p id='report'>No report yet</p>";
      $('#no_report_table').html(html_result).fadeIn('fast');
}

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Sep 10 '18 at 16:05

1

Dirty but simple and works:

function isEmptyObject(obj) {
  return JSON.stringify(obj) == '{}';
}

answered Sep 10 '18 at 16:05

elixon

1,123
12
15

score -2 · Answer 7 · answered Dec 20 '12 at 14:09

-2

if (ricHistory.name2 === undefined) {
   //This is property has not been set (which is not really the same as empty though...)
}

answered Dec 20 '12 at 14:09

Per Salbark

3,597
1
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Check if Object is empty with JavaScript/jQuery

7 Answers7