Adding equal amount of whitespace to both ends of string

Question

    function space(str, numspace)
   {
       output="";
       for(i=0;i<str.length;++i)
       {
           output = numspace+ str;
       }
       for(i=0;i<str.length;++i)
       {
           output = output + numspace;
       }
       return output;
   }

I am trying to get this function to add an equal amount of whitespace to both ends of the string. I am not allowed to use built-in functions so that explains why i'm doing this the long way.

The output I get with the code I have :

space("hello","--")

"--hello-----------"

The "-" signify spaces, so the amount of spaces on the left side of the string is correct, but the amount of spaces on the right side of the string is way to much. Anyone have any ideas why this is occuring?

if only one reputation required, why do you use a for loop? simply return(sp+str+sp); — Soley, Apr 04 '17 at 15:29
Good question, I don't know why i put spaced there it's supposed to be a number, so when i input like 2 it returns "22hello22222222222" but i would like it to return spaces not the number. — Tiago Sa, Apr 04 '17 at 15:34

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Feb 20 '23 at 06:23

1

Why not do this instead:

const space = (str, numspace) => {
    const spc = Array(numspace).fill(' ').join('')
    return spc+str+spc
}

console.log(space("ap", 3))

What it does:

Create a spc variable which has as many spaces as numspace demands
Join spc on both sides of str

Edit - The longer way

const space = (str, numspace) => {
    let spc = ''
    for (;numspace--;spc+=' '){}
    return spc+str+spc
}

console.log(space('ap',3))

edited Feb 20 '23 at 06:23

Arnav Thorat

3,078
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answered Apr 04 '17 at 15:23

AP.

8,082
2
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*"I am not allowed to use built-in functions so that explains why i'm doing this the long way."* – T.J. Crowder Apr 04 '17 at 15:25
Edited with the longer way @Salivan – AP. Apr 04 '17 at 15:30
the question is not clear. if OP wants only one instance in both sides, why a loop needed? – Soley Apr 04 '17 at 15:32
1

This is a short and concise answer with good explanation. Downvoter pls reconsider! – Balázs Édes Apr 04 '17 at 15:35

DibsyJr · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-04T15:47:20.840

If numspace is an integer, then you can use that value as the upper boundary in a for loop like so:

function space(str, numspace)
{
    var emptySpace = "";
    for (i = 0; i < numspace; i++){
        emptySpace += " ";
    }
    var output = emptySpace + str + emptySpace;
    return output;
}

console.log("'" + space('example1', 5) + "'");
console.log("'" + space('example2', 3) + "'");
console.log("'" + space('example3', 1) + "'");

This way you'll create a variable emptySpace that is a string numspace in length of white space and attach it to the front and back of the str string before returning the output.

EDIT: Based on information from the comments of OP I have changed the function.

Soley · Answer 3 · 2017-04-04T15:26:54.423

0

Just surround it with anything that you want to have in both side.

  function space(str, numspace)
   {
       output=str;
       for(i=0;i<str.length;++i)
       {
           output = numspace + output + numspace;
       }
       return output;
   }

edited Apr 04 '17 at 15:26

answered Apr 04 '17 at 15:25

Soley

1,716
1
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Code dumps are not *useful* answers. Say *what* you changed, and *why*. – T.J. Crowder Apr 04 '17 at 15:26

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 04 '17 at 15:37

This function can be used to append any number of characters to the text

    var output = addSpace('hello','*',4);
    alert(output); // output ****hello****

    function addSpace(text,character,no){
        var appendChar = character;
        for(var i=1;i<no;i++) {
        appendChar = appendChar+character;
      }
      return appendChar+text+appendChar;
    }

Adding equal amount of whitespace to both ends of string

4 Answers4

Edit - The longer way