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JavaScript JavaScript Loops, Arrays and Objects Tracking Multiple Items with Arrays Review Array Methods, Iterating and Two-Dimensional Arrays

Posted by David Turner
David Turner
1,061 Points

toString() or not toString()? that is the question!

In this particular question, there is a javascript method called toString. Obviously, this is not that one because you are passing an argument for a separator and toString does not take one. But may I ask why use join() instead of toString()?

1 Answer

andren
andren
28,558 Points
andren
andren
28,558 Points

The main reason is the exact thing you point out yourself, join allows you to select your own separator which allows you to style how the resulting string looks. If you use the toString method on the example array in the quiz the resulting string would look like this:

"Hello Sally,Joan,Raphael,Sam"

If you use the join method with the separator from the quiz you get this string:

"Hello Sally, Joan, Raphael, Sam"

As you can see the second string is spaced better than the first one, so even if comma is the separator you want to use the join method can be useful for improved spacing.

If you are happy with how the string looks by using the toString method then there is nothing inherently wrong with using it, but the join method gives you far more control over the separator which is often useful.

David Turner
David Turner
1,061 Points

Sure, I was just curious. I like how some quizzes sometimes stretch what you know by forcing you to use external information, that's why I was curious about it.