Example
Convert an array to a string:
const fruits = ["Banana", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"];
let text = fruits.toString[];
Try it Yourself »
Definition and Usage
The toString[]
method returns a string with array values separated by commas.
The toString[]
method does not change the original array.
Note
Every JavaScript object has a toString[]
method.
The toString[]
method is used internally by JavaScript when an object needs to be displayed as a text [like in HTML], or when an object needs to be used as a string.
Normally, you will not use it in your own code.
Syntax
Parameters
Return Value
Type | Description |
A string | The array values separated by commas. |
Browser Support
toString[]
is an ECMAScript1 [ES1] feature.
ES1 [JavaScript 1997] is fully supported in all browsers:
Chrome | IE | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Opera |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Examples
const fruits = ["Banana", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"];
let text = fruits.join[];
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Another separator:
const fruits = ["Banana", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"];
let text = fruits.join[" and "];
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Definition and Usage
The join[]
method returns an array as a string.
The join[]
method does not change the original array.
Any separator can be specified. The default is comma [,].
Syntax
Parameters
Parameter | Description |
separator | Optional. The separator to be used. Default is a comma. |
Return Value
Type | Description |
A string. | The array values, separated by the specified separator. |
Browser Support
join[]
is an ECMAScript1 [ES1] feature.
ES1 [JavaScript 1997] is fully supported in all browsers:
Chrome | IE | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Opera |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Four methods to convert an array to a string.
Coercing to a string
var arr = ['a', 'b', 'c'] + []; // "a,b,c"
var arr = ['a', 'b', 'c'] + ''; // "a,b,c"
Calling .toString[]
var arr = ['a', 'b', 'c'].toString[]; // "a,b,c"
Explicitly joining using .join[]
var arr = ['a', 'b', 'c'].join[]; // "a,b,c" [Defaults to ',' seperator]
var arr = ['a', 'b', 'c'].join[',']; // "a,b,c"
You can use other separators,
for example, ', '
var arr = ['a', 'b', 'c'].join[', ']; // "a, b, c"
Using JSON.stringify[]
This is cleaner, as it quotes strings inside of the array and handles nested arrays properly.
var arr = JSON.stringify[['a', 'b', 'c']]; // '["a","b","c"]'
The A string representing the elements of the array. The toString[]
method returns a string representing the specified array and its elements. Try it
Syntax
Return value
Description
Array
object overrides the toString
method of
Object
. The toString
method of arrays calls join[]
internally, which joins the array and returns one string containing each array element separated by commas. If the join
method is unavailable or is not a function,
Object.prototype.toString
is used instead, returning [object Array]
.const arr = [];
arr.join = 1; // re-assign `join` with a non-function
console.log[arr.toString[]]; // Logs [object Array]
console.log[Array.prototype.toString.call[{ join: [] => 1 }]]; // Logs 1
JavaScript calls the toString
method automatically when an array is to be represented as a text value or when an array is referred to in a string concatenation.
Examples
Using toString[]
const array1 = [1, 2, 'a', '1a'];
console.log[array1.toString[]];
// expected output: "1,2,a,1a"
Using toString[] on sparse arrays
Following the behavior of join[]
, toString[]
treats empty slots the same as undefined
and produces an extra separator:
console.log[[1, , 3].toString[]]; // '1,,3'
Specifications
ECMAScript Language Specification # sec-array.prototype.tostring |
Browser compatibility
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