Convert a string that looks like an array into an actual array

Question

If I have str = "[[1,Warriors,NBA],[2,Kings,NBA],[3,Knicks,NBA]]" how could I turn that into a array in JavaScript?

An array where each element of the array is an array itself.

Possible?

Why not just create an array to begin with, or at least valid JSON — adeneo, Mar 21 '16 at 01:35
If this is the content format you're stuck with, then you will have to write your own parser that understands that format. There is no pre-built way to parse this non-standard format. — jfriend00, Mar 21 '16 at 01:38
What is source of this string? Making it valid json at source would help — charlietfl, Mar 21 '16 at 01:38
I think I will explore making it into valid JSON and going from there... thx. Though I am curious if the above can be turned into an actual array. — slindsey3000, Mar 21 '16 at 01:40
How would you convert `Warriors` in javascript? Is it referring to a variable or a string? — The_Black_Smurf, Mar 21 '16 at 01:40
I need to be able to update a select in a form dynamically. I think I will try to transform it to JSON first and then go from there — slindsey3000, Mar 21 '16 at 01:41
`var arr = [[1,"Warriors","NBA"],[2,"Kings","NBA"],[3,"Knicks","NBA"]];` — adeneo, Mar 21 '16 at 01:41
Parsing the string isn't too hard if the format is a simple as the OP. Have a go and if you have any issues, post questions about that. — RobG, Mar 21 '16 at 01:47

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 21 '16 at 01:50

You can try this rudimentary function I put together for 2D arrays:

function customParse(data){
    arr = []
    for(var i = 0; i < str.length; i++){
      if(str[i] == ','){
        if(!isNaN(str[i-1])){
          arr.push(',')
          arr.push('"')
        }else{
          if(str[i-1] != "]"){
            arr.push('"')
            arr.push(',')
            arr.push('"')
          }else{
            arr.push(',')
          }
        }
      }else{
        if(str[i] == ']' && str[i-1] != ']'){
          arr.push('"')
        }
        arr.push(str[i])
      }
    }
    return JSON.parse(arr.join(""))
}

str = "[[1,Warriors,NBA],[2,Kings,NBA],[3,Knicks,NBA]]"
result = customParse(str)
alert("Raw: "+result);
alert("Stringified: "+JSON.stringify(result));

zachzurn · Answer 2 · 2016-03-21T02:01:49.007

A little dirty, but will do the trick. the "matches" variable would contain your array of arrays.

var str = "[[1,Warriors,NBA],[2,Kings,NBA],[3,Knicks,NBA]]";
var cleanStr = str.substring(1,str.length-1)

var matches = [];

var pattern = /\[(.*?)\]/g;
var match;

while ((match = pattern.exec(cleanStr)) != null)
{
  matches.push(match[1].split(","));
}

Additionally, if you have the option, just define the array in javascript.

var list = [[1,'Warriors','NBA'],['2','Kings','NBA'],[3,'Knicks','NBA']];

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 21 '16 at 01:41

0

There are some javascript parsers written in javascript. See this:JavaScript parser in JavaScript, this:https://github.com/mishoo/UglifyJS, this:http://esprima.org/, this:http://marijnhaverbeke.nl/acorn/.

answered Mar 21 '16 at 01:41

v7d8dpo4

1,399
8
9

This isn't an answer, it should be a comment. – RobG Mar 21 '16 at 01:44

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 21 '16 at 01:53

0

var array = JSON.parse("[" + str + "]");

or you can use .split(), that will also end up with an Array of strings.

answered Mar 21 '16 at 01:53

Istiak Morsalin

10,621
9
33
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Convert a string that looks like an array into an actual array

4 Answers4