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Js how to set an item at a nested index in an empty array [duplicate]

I hope someone can help me with this Javascript.
I have an Object called "Settings" and I would like to write a function that adds new settings to that object.
The new setting's name and value are provided as strings. The string giving the setting's name is then split by the underscores into an array. The new setting should get added to the existing "Settings" object by creating new nested objects with the names given by each part of the array, except the last part which should be a string giving the setting's value. I should then be able to refer to the setting and e.g. alert its value. I can do this in a static way like this...
var Settings = {};
var newSettingName = "Modules_Video_Plugin";
var newSettingValue = "JWPlayer";
var newSettingNameArray = newSettingName.split("_");
Settings[newSettingNameArray[0]] = {};
Settings[newSettingNameArray[0]][newSettingNameArray[1]] = {};
Settings[newSettingNameArray[0]][newSettingNameArray[1]][newSettingNameArray[2]] = newSettingValue;
alert(Settings.Modules.Mediaplayers.Video.Plugin);
... the part that creates the nested objects is doing this ...
Settings["Modules"] = {};
Settings["Modules"]["Video"] = {};
Settings["Modules"]["Video"]["Plugin"] = "JWPlayer";
However, as the number of parts that make up the setting name can vary, e.g. a newSettingName could be "Modules_Floorplan_Image_Src", I'd like to do this dynamically using a function such as...
createSetting (newSettingNameArray, newSettingValue);
function createSetting(setting, value) {
// code to create new setting goes here
}
Can anyone help me work out how to do this dynamically?
I presume there has to be a for...loop in there to itterate through the array, but I haven't been able to work out a way to create the nested objects.
If you've got this far thanks very much for taking the time to read even if you can't help.

Put in a function, short and fast (no recursion).
var createNestedObject = function( base, names ) {
for( var i = 0; i < names.length; i++ ) {
base = base[ names[i] ] = base[ names[i] ] || {};
}
};
// Usage:
createNestedObject( window, ["shapes", "triangle", "points"] );
// Now window.shapes.triangle.points is an empty object, ready to be used.
It skips already existing parts of the hierarchy. Useful if you are not sure whether the hierarchy was already created.
Or:
A fancier version where you can directly assign the value to the last object in the hierarchy, and you can chain function calls because it returns the last object.
// Function: createNestedObject( base, names[, value] )
// base: the object on which to create the hierarchy
// names: an array of strings contaning the names of the objects
// value (optional): if given, will be the last object in the hierarchy
// Returns: the last object in the hierarchy
var createNestedObject = function( base, names, value ) {
// If a value is given, remove the last name and keep it for later:
var lastName = arguments.length === 3 ? names.pop() : false;
// Walk the hierarchy, creating new objects where needed.
// If the lastName was removed, then the last object is not set yet:
for( var i = 0; i < names.length; i++ ) {
base = base[ names[i] ] = base[ names[i] ] || {};
}
// If a value was given, set it to the last name:
if( lastName ) base = base[ lastName ] = value;
// Return the last object in the hierarchy:
return base;
};
// Usages:
createNestedObject( window, ["shapes", "circle"] );
// Now window.shapes.circle is an empty object, ready to be used.
var obj = {}; // Works with any object other that window too
createNestedObject( obj, ["shapes", "rectangle", "width"], 300 );
// Now we have: obj.shapes.rectangle.width === 300
createNestedObject( obj, "shapes.rectangle.height".split('.'), 400 );
// Now we have: obj.shapes.rectangle.height === 400
Note: if your hierarchy needs to be built from values other that standard objects (ie. not {}), see also TimDog's answer below.
Edit: uses regular loops instead of for...in loops. It's safer in cases where a library modifies the Array prototype.

function assign(obj, keyPath, value) {
lastKeyIndex = keyPath.length-1;
for (var i = 0; i < lastKeyIndex; ++ i) {
key = keyPath[i];
if (!(key in obj)){
obj[key] = {}
}
obj = obj[key];
}
obj[keyPath[lastKeyIndex]] = value;
}
Usage:
var settings = {};
assign(settings, ['Modules', 'Video', 'Plugin'], 'JWPlayer');

My ES2015 solution. Keeps existing values.
const set = (obj, path, val) => {
const keys = path.split('.');
const lastKey = keys.pop();
const lastObj = keys.reduce((obj, key) =>
obj[key] = obj[key] || {},
obj);
lastObj[lastKey] = val;
};
Example:
const obj = {'a': {'prop': {'that': 'exists'}}};
set(obj, 'a.very.deep.prop', 'value');
console.log(JSON.stringify(obj));
// {"a":{"prop":{"that":"exists"},"very":{"deep":{"prop":"value"}}}}

Using ES6 is shorten. Set your path into an array.
first, you have to reverse the array, to start filling the object.
let obj = ['a','b','c'] // {a:{b:{c:{}}}
obj.reverse();
const nestedObject = obj.reduce((prev, current) => (
{[current]:{...prev}}
), {});

Another recursive solution:
var nest = function(obj, keys, v) {
if (keys.length === 1) {
obj[keys[0]] = v;
} else {
var key = keys.shift();
obj[key] = nest(typeof obj[key] === 'undefined' ? {} : obj[key], keys, v);
}
return obj;
};
Example usage:
var dog = {bark: {sound: 'bark!'}};
nest(dog, ['bark', 'loudness'], 66);
nest(dog, ['woff', 'sound'], 'woff!');
console.log(dog); // {bark: {loudness: 66, sound: "bark!"}, woff: {sound: "woff!"}}

I love this ES6 immutable way to set certain value on nested field:
const setValueToField = (fields, value) => {
const reducer = (acc, item, index, arr) => ({ [item]: index + 1 < arr.length ? acc : value });
return fields.reduceRight(reducer, {});
};
And then use it with creating your target object.
const targetObject = setValueToField(['one', 'two', 'three'], 'nice');
console.log(targetObject); // Output: { one: { two: { three: 'nice' } } }

Lodash has a _.set method to achieve this
let obj = {}
_.set(obj, ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd'], 'e')
or
_.set(obj, 'a.b.c.d', 'e')
// which generate the following object
{
"a": {
"b": {
"c": {
"d": "e"
}
}
}
}

Here is a simple tweak to jlgrall's answer that allows setting distinct values on each element in the nested hierarchy:
var createNestedObject = function( base, names, values ) {
for( var i in names ) base = base[ names[i] ] = base[ names[i] ] || (values[i] || {});
};
Hope it helps.

Here is a functional solution to dynamically create nested objects.
const nest = (path, obj) => {
const reversedPath = path.split('.').reverse();
const iter = ([head, ...tail], obj) => {
if (!head) {
return obj;
}
const newObj = {[head]: {...obj}};
return iter(tail, newObj);
}
return iter(reversedPath, obj);
}
Example:
const data = {prop: 'someData'};
const path = 'a.deep.path';
const result = nest(path, data);
console.log(JSON.stringify(result));
// {"a":{"deep":{"path":{"prop":"someData"}}}}

Inspired by ImmutableJS setIn method which will never mutate the original. This works with mixed array and object nested values.
function setIn(obj = {}, [prop, ...rest], value) {
const newObj = Array.isArray(obj) ? [...obj] : {...obj};
newObj[prop] = rest.length ? setIn(obj[prop], rest, value) : value;
return newObj;
}
var obj = {
a: {
b: {
c: [
{d: 5}
]
}
}
};
const newObj = setIn(obj, ["a", "b", "c", 0, "x"], "new");
//obj === {a: {b: {c: [{d: 5}]}}}
//newObj === {a: {b: {c: [{d: 5, x: "new"}]}}}

Appreciate that this question is mega old! But after coming across a need to do something like this in node, I made a module and published it to npm.
Nestob
var nestob = require('nestob');
//Create a new nestable object - instead of the standard js object ({})
var newNested = new nestob.Nestable();
//Set nested object properties without having to create the objects first!
newNested.setNested('biscuits.oblong.marmaduke', 'cheese');
newNested.setNested(['orange', 'tartan', 'pipedream'], { poppers: 'astray', numbers: [123,456,789]});
console.log(newNested, newNested.orange.tartan.pipedream);
//{ biscuits: { oblong: { marmaduke: 'cheese' } },
orange: { tartan: { pipedream: [Object] } } } { poppers: 'astray', numbers: [ 123, 456, 789 ] }
//Get nested object properties without having to worry about whether the objects exist
//Pass in a default value to be returned if desired
console.log(newNested.getNested('generic.yoghurt.asguard', 'autodrome'));
//autodrome
//You can also pass in an array containing the object keys
console.log(newNested.getNested(['chosp', 'umbridge', 'dollar'], 'symbols'));
//symbols
//You can also use nestob to modify objects not created using nestob
var normalObj = {};
nestob.setNested(normalObj, 'running.out.of', 'words');
console.log(normalObj);
//{ running: { out: { of: 'words' } } }
console.log(nestob.getNested(normalObj, 'random.things', 'indigo'));
//indigo
console.log(nestob.getNested(normalObj, 'improbable.apricots'));
//false

Inside your loop you can use lodash.set and will create the path for you:
...
const set = require('lodash.set');
const p = {};
const [type, lang, name] = f.split('.');
set(p, [lang, type, name], '');
console.log(p);
// { lang: { 'type': { 'name': '' }}}

try using recursive function:
function createSetting(setting, value, index) {
if (typeof index !== 'number') {
index = 0;
}
if (index+1 == setting.length ) {
settings[setting[index]] = value;
}
else {
settings[setting[index]] = {};
createSetting(setting, value, ++index);
}
}

I think, this is shorter:
Settings = {};
newSettingName = "Modules_Floorplan_Image_Src";
newSettingValue = "JWPlayer";
newSettingNameArray = newSettingName.split("_");
a = Settings;
for (var i = 0 in newSettingNameArray) {
var x = newSettingNameArray[i];
a[x] = i == newSettingNameArray.length-1 ? newSettingValue : {};
a = a[x];
}

I found #jlgrall's answer was great but after simplifying it, it didn't work in Chrome. Here's my fixed should anyone want a lite version:
var callback = 'fn.item1.item2.callbackfunction',
cb = callback.split('.'),
baseObj = window;
function createNestedObject(base, items){
$.each(items, function(i, v){
base = base[v] = (base[v] || {});
});
}
callbackFunction = createNestedObject(baseObj, cb);
console.log(callbackFunction);
I hope this is useful and relevant. Sorry, I've just smashed this example out...

You can define your own Object methods; also I'm using underscore for brevity:
var _ = require('underscore');
// a fast get method for object, by specifying an address with depth
Object.prototype.pick = function(addr) {
if (!_.isArray(addr)) return this[addr]; // if isn't array, just get normally
var tmpo = this;
while (i = addr.shift())
tmpo = tmpo[i];
return tmpo;
};
// a fast set method for object, put value at obj[addr]
Object.prototype.put = function(addr, val) {
if (!_.isArray(addr)) this[addr] = val; // if isn't array, just set normally
this.pick(_.initial(addr))[_.last(addr)] = val;
};
Sample usage:
var obj = {
'foo': {
'bar': 0 }}
obj.pick('foo'); // returns { bar: 0 }
obj.pick(['foo','bar']); // returns 0
obj.put(['foo', 'bar'], -1) // obj becomes {'foo': {'bar': -1}}

A snippet for those who need to create a nested objects with support of array keys to set a value to the end of path. Path is the string like: modal.product.action.review.2.write.survey.data. Based on jlgrall version.
var updateStateQuery = function(state, path, value) {
var names = path.split('.');
for (var i = 0, len = names.length; i < len; i++) {
if (i == (len - 1)) {
state = state[names[i]] = state[names[i]] || value;
}
else if (parseInt(names[i+1]) >= 0) {
state = state[names[i]] = state[names[i]] || [];
}
else {
state = state[names[i]] = state[names[i]] || {};
}
}
};

Set Nested Data:
function setNestedData(root, path, value) {
var paths = path.split('.');
var last_index = paths.length - 1;
paths.forEach(function(key, index) {
if (!(key in root)) root[key] = {};
if (index==last_index) root[key] = value;
root = root[key];
});
return root;
}
var obj = {'existing': 'value'};
setNestedData(obj, 'animal.fish.pet', 'derp');
setNestedData(obj, 'animal.cat.pet', 'musubi');
console.log(JSON.stringify(obj));
// {"existing":"value","animal":{"fish":{"pet":"derp"},"cat":{"pet":"musubi"}}}
Get Nested Data:
function getNestedData(obj, path) {
var index = function(obj, i) { return obj && obj[i]; };
return path.split('.').reduce(index, obj);
}
getNestedData(obj, 'animal.cat.pet')
// "musubi"
getNestedData(obj, 'animal.dog.pet')
// undefined

Try this: https://github.com/silkyland/object-to-formdata
var obj2fd = require('obj2fd/es5').default
var fd = obj2fd({
a:1,
b:[
{c: 3},
{d: 4}
]
})
Result :
fd = [
a => 1,
b => [
c => 3,
d => 4
]
]

Here is a decomposition to several useful functions, that each preserve existing data. Does not handle arrays.
setDeep: Answers question. Non-destructive to other data in the object.
setDefaultDeep: Same, but only sets if not already set.
setDefault: Sets a key if not already set. Same as Python's setdefault.
setStructure: Helper function that builds the path.
// Create a nested structure of objects along path within obj. Only overwrites the final value.
let setDeep = (obj, path, value) =>
setStructure(obj, path.slice(0, -1))[path[path.length - 1]] = value
// Create a nested structure of objects along path within obj. Does not overwrite any value.
let setDefaultDeep = (obj, path, value) =>
setDefault(setStructure(obj, path.slice(0, -1)), path[path.length - 1], value)
// Set obj[key] to value if key is not in object, and return obj[key]
let setDefault = (obj, key, value) =>
obj[key] = key in obj ? obj[key] : value;
// Create a nested structure of objects along path within obj. Does not overwrite any value.
let setStructure = (obj, path) =>
path.reduce((obj, segment) => setDefault(obj, segment, {}), obj);
// EXAMPLES
let temp = {};
// returns the set value, similar to assignment
console.log('temp.a.b.c.d:',
setDeep(temp, ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd'], 'one'))
// not destructive to 'one'
setDeep(temp, ['a', 'b', 'z'], 'two')
// does not overwrite, returns previously set value
console.log('temp.a.b.z: ',
setDefaultDeep(temp, ['a', 'b', 'z'], 'unused'))
// creates new, returns current value
console.log('temp["a.1"]: ',
setDefault(temp, 'a.1', 'three'))
// can also be used as a getter
console.log("temp.x.y.z: ",
setStructure(temp, ['x', 'y', 'z']))
console.log("final object:", temp)
I'm not sure why anyone would want string paths:
They are ambiguous for keys with periods
You have to build the strings in the first place

Since I started with something from this page, I wanted to contribute back
Other examples overwrote the final node even if it was set, and that wasn't what I wanted.
Also, if returnObj is set to true, it returns the base object. By default, falsy, it returns the deepest node.
function param(obj, path, value, returnObj) {
if (typeof path == 'string') path = path.split(".");
var child = obj;
path.forEach((key, i) => {
if (!(key in child)) {
child[key] = (i < path.length-1) ? {} : value || {};
}
child = child[key];
});
return returnObj ? obj : child;
}
var x = {};
var xOut = param(x, "y.z", "setting")
console.log(xOut);
xOut = param(x, "y.z", "overwrite") // won't set
console.log(xOut);
xOut = param(x, "y.a", "setting2")
console.log(xOut);
xOut = param(x, "y.a", "setting2", true) // get object rather than deepest node.
console.log(xOut);
You can also do something where numeric keys are placed in arrays (if they don't already exist). Note that numeric keys won't convert to arrays for the first element of the path, since that's set by the type of your base-object.
function isNumber(n) {
return !isNaN(parseFloat(n)) && isFinite(n);
}
function param(obj, path, value, returnObj) {
if (typeof path == 'string') path = path.split(".");
var child = obj;
path.forEach((key, i) => {
var nextKey = path[i+1];
if (!(key in child)) {
child[key] = (nextKey == undefined && value != undefined
? value
: isNumber(nextKey)
? []
: {});
}
child = child[key];
});
return returnObj ? obj : child;
}
var x = {};
var xOut = param(x, "y.z", "setting")
console.log(xOut);
xOut = param(x, "y.z", "overwrite") // won't set
console.log(xOut);
xOut = param(x, "y.a", "setting2")
console.log(xOut);
xOut = param(x, "y.a", "setting2", true) // get object rather than deepest node.
xOut = param(x, "1.0.2.a", "setting")
xOut = param(x, "1.0.1.a", "try to override") // won't set
xOut = param(x, "1.0.5.a", "new-setting", true) // get object rather than deepest node.
console.log(xOut);
Naturally, when the numeric keys are greater than 0, you might see some undefined gaps.
Practical uses of this might be
function AddNote(book, page, line) {
// assume a global global notes collection
var myNotes = param(allNotes, [book, page, line], []);
myNotes.push('This was a great twist!')
return myNotes;
}
var allNotes = {}
var youthfulHopes = AddNote('A Game of Thrones', 4, 2, "I'm already hooked, at least I won't have to wait long for the books to come out!");
console.log(allNotes)
// {"A Game of Thrones": [undefined, undefined, undefined, undefined, [undefined, undefined, ["I'm already hooked, at least I won't have to wait long for the books to come out!"]]]}
console.log(youthfulHopes)
// ["I'm already hooked, at least I won't have to wait long for the books to come out!"]

function initPath(obj, path) {
path.split('.').reduce((o, key) => (
Object.assign(o, {[key]: Object(o[key])}),
o[key]
), obj);
return obj;
}
Usage
const obj = { a: { b: 'value1' } };
initPath(obj, 'a.c.d').a.c.d='value2';
/*
{
"a": {
"b": "value1",
"c": {
"d": "value2"
}
}
}
*/

simple answer. on es6, im using this
const assign = (obj, path, value) => {
let keyPath = path.split('.')
let lastKeyIndex = keyPath.length - 1
for (let i = 0; i < lastKeyIndex; ++i) {
let key = keyPath[i]
if (!(key in obj)) {
obj[key] = {}
}
obj = obj[key]
}
obj[keyPath[lastKeyIndex]] = value
}
example json
const obj = {
b: 'hello'
}
you can add new key
assign(obj, 'c.d.e', 'this value')
and you get like bellow
console.log(obj)
//response example
obj = {
b: 'hello',
c: {
d: {
e: 'this value'
}
}
}

function createObj(keys, value) {
let obj = {}
let schema = obj
keys = keys.split('.')
for (let i = 0; i < keys.length - 1; i++) {
schema[keys[i]] = {}
schema = schema[keys[i]]
}
schema[keys.pop()] = value
return obj
}
let keys = 'value1.value2.value3'
let value = 'Hello'
let obj = createObj(keys, value)

Eval is probably overkill but the result is simple to visualize, with no nested loops or recursion.
function buildDir(obj, path){
var paths = path.split('_');
var final = paths.pop();
for (let i = 1; i <= paths.length; i++) {
var key = "obj['" + paths.slice(0, i).join("']['") + "']"
console.log(key)
eval(`${key} = {}`)
}
eval(`${key} = '${final}'`)
return obj
}
var newSettingName = "Modules_Video_Plugin_JWPlayer";
var Settings = buildDir( {}, newSettingName );
Basically you are progressively writing a string "obj['one']= {}", "obj['one']['two']"= {} and evaling it;

Compare two objects based on property names [duplicate]

I am using node, mocha, and chai for my application. I want to test that my returned results data property is the same "type of object" as one of my model objects (Very similar to chai's instance). I just want to confirm that the two objects have the same sets of property names. I am specifically not interested in the actual values of the properties.
Let's say I have the model Person like below. I want to check that my results.data has all the same properties as the expected model does. So in this case, Person which has a firstName and lastName.
So if results.data.lastName and results.data.firstName both exist, then it should return true. If either one doesn't exist, it should return false. A bonus would be if results.data has any additional properties like results.data.surname, then it would return false because surname doesn't exist in Person.
This model
function Person(data) {
var self = this;
self.firstName = "unknown";
self.lastName = "unknown";
if (typeof data != "undefined") {
self.firstName = data.firstName;
self.lastName = data.lastName;
}
}

You can serialize simple data to check for equality:
data1 = {firstName: 'John', lastName: 'Smith'};
data2 = {firstName: 'Jane', lastName: 'Smith'};
JSON.stringify(data1) === JSON.stringify(data2)
This will give you something like
'{firstName:"John",lastName:"Smith"}' === '{firstName:"Jane",lastName:"Smith"}'
As a function...
function compare(a, b) {
return JSON.stringify(a) === JSON.stringify(b);
}
compare(data1, data2);
EDIT
If you're using chai like you say, check out http://chaijs.com/api/bdd/#equal-section
EDIT 2
If you just want to check keys...
function compareKeys(a, b) {
var aKeys = Object.keys(a).sort();
var bKeys = Object.keys(b).sort();
return JSON.stringify(aKeys) === JSON.stringify(bKeys);
}
should do it.

2 Here a short ES6 variadic version:
function objectsHaveSameKeys(...objects) {
const allKeys = objects.reduce((keys, object) => keys.concat(Object.keys(object)), []);
const union = new Set(allKeys);
return objects.every(object => union.size === Object.keys(object).length);
}
A little performance test (MacBook Pro - 2,8 GHz Intel Core i7, Node 5.5.0):
var x = {};
var y = {};
for (var i = 0; i < 5000000; ++i) {
x[i] = i;
y[i] = i;
}
Results:
objectsHaveSameKeys(x, y) // took 4996 milliseconds
compareKeys(x, y) // took 14880 milliseconds
hasSameProps(x,y) // after 10 minutes I stopped execution

If you want to check if both objects have the same properties name, you can do this:
function hasSameProps( obj1, obj2 ) {
return Object.keys( obj1 ).every( function( prop ) {
return obj2.hasOwnProperty( prop );
});
}
var obj1 = { prop1: 'hello', prop2: 'world', prop3: [1,2,3,4,5] },
obj2 = { prop1: 'hello', prop2: 'world', prop3: [1,2,3,4,5] };
console.log(hasSameProps(obj1, obj2));
In this way you are sure to check only iterable and accessible properties of both the objects.
EDIT - 2013.04.26:
The previous function can be rewritten in the following way:
function hasSameProps( obj1, obj2 ) {
var obj1Props = Object.keys( obj1 ),
obj2Props = Object.keys( obj2 );
if ( obj1Props.length == obj2Props.length ) {
return obj1Props.every( function( prop ) {
return obj2Props.indexOf( prop ) >= 0;
});
}
return false;
}
In this way we check that both the objects have the same number of properties (otherwise the objects haven't the same properties, and we must return a logical false) then, if the number matches, we go to check if they have the same properties.
Bonus
A possible enhancement could be to introduce also a type checking to enforce the match on every property.

If you want deep validation like #speculees, here's an answer using deep-keys (disclosure: I'm sort of a maintainer of this small package)
// obj1 should have all of obj2's properties
var deepKeys = require('deep-keys');
var _ = require('underscore');
assert(0 === _.difference(deepKeys(obj2), deepKeys(obj1)).length);
// obj1 should have exactly obj2's properties
var deepKeys = require('deep-keys');
var _ = require('lodash');
assert(0 === _.xor(deepKeys(obj2), deepKeys(obj1)).length);
or with chai:
var expect = require('chai').expect;
var deepKeys = require('deep-keys');
// obj1 should have all of obj2's properties
expect(deepKeys(obj1)).to.include.members(deepKeys(obj2));
// obj1 should have exactly obj2's properties
expect(deepKeys(obj1)).to.have.members(deepKeys(obj2));

Here's a deep-check version of the function provided above by schirrmacher.
Below is my attempt. Please note:
Solution does not check for null and is not bullet proof
I haven't performance tested it. Maybe schirrmacher or OP can do that and share for the community.
I'm not a JS expert :).
function objectsHaveSameKeys(...objects) {
const allKeys = objects.reduce((keys, object) => keys.concat(Object.keys(object)), [])
const union = new Set(allKeys)
if (union.size === 0) return true
if (!objects.every((object) => union.size === Object.keys(object).length)) return false
for (let key of union.keys()) {
let res = objects.map((o) => (typeof o[key] === 'object' ? o[key] : {}))
if (!objectsHaveSameKeys(...res)) return false
}
return true
}
Update 1
A 90% improvement on the recursive deep-check version is achieved on my computer by skipping the concat() and adding the keys directly to the Set(). The same optimization to the original single level version by schirrmacher also achieves ~40% improvement.
The optimized deep-check is now very similar in performance to the optimized single level version!
function objectsHaveSameKeysOptimized(...objects) {
let union = new Set();
union = objects.reduce((keys, object) => keys.add(Object.keys(object)), union);
if (union.size === 0) return true
if (!objects.every((object) => union.size === Object.keys(object).length)) return false
for (let key of union.keys()) {
let res = objects.map((o) => (typeof o[key] === 'object' ? o[key] : {}))
if (!objectsHaveSameKeys(...res)) return false
}
return true
}
Performance Comparison
var x = {}
var y = {}
var a = {}
for (var j = 0; j < 10; ++j){
a[j] = j
}
for (var i = 0; i < 500000; ++i) {
x[i] = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(a))
y[i] = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(a))
}
let startTs = new Date()
let result = objectsHaveSameKeys(x, y)
let endTs = new Date()
console.log('objectsHaveSameKeys = ' + (endTs - startTs)/1000)
Results
A: Recursive/deep-check versions*
objectsHaveSameKeys = 5.185
objectsHaveSameKeysOptimized = 0.415
B: Original non-deep versions
objectsHaveSameKeysOriginalNonDeep = 0.517
objectsHaveSameKeysOriginalNonDeepOptimized = 0.342

function getObjectProperties(object, propertiesString = '') {
let auxPropertiesString = propertiesString;
for (const objectLevel of Object.keys(object).sort((a, b) => a.localeCompare(b))) {
if (typeof object[objectLevel] === 'object') {
auxPropertiesString += getObjectProperties(object[objectLevel], auxPropertiesString);
} else {
auxPropertiesString += objectLevel;
}
}
return auxPropertiesString;
}
function objectsHaveTheSameKeys(objects) {
const properties = [];
for (const object of objects) {
properties.push(getObjectProperties(object));
}
return properties.every(eachProperty => eachProperty === properties[0]);
}
It's a bit rudimentary, but should do the work in case you want to compare properties.

Legacy Browser Object Compare Function
Unlike the other solutions posted here, my Object Compare Function works in ALL BROWSERS, modern or legacy, including very old browsers, even Internet Explorer 5 (c.2000)!
Features:
Can compare an unlimited list of Objects. All must match or fails!
Ignores property order
Only compares "own" properties (i.e. non-prototype)
Matches BOTH property names and property values (key-value pairs)!
Matches functions signatures in objects!
Every object submitted is cross-compared with each other to detect missing properties in cases where one is missing but not in the other
Avoids null, undefined, NaN, Arrays, non-Objects, etc.
{} empty object detection
Works in almost ALL BROWSERS, including even Internet Explorer 5 and many other legacy browsers!
Note the function does not detect complex objects in properties, but you could rewrite the function to call them recursively.
Just call the method with as many objects as you like!
ObjectCompare(myObject1,myObject2,myObject3)
function ObjectCompare() {
try {
if (arguments && arguments.length > 0) {
var len = arguments.length;
if (len > 1) {
var array = [];
for (var i = 0; i < len; i++) {
if (
((typeof arguments[i] !== 'undefined') || (typeof arguments[i] === 'undefined' && arguments[i] !== undefined))
&& (arguments[i] !== null)
&& !(arguments[i] instanceof Array)
&& ((typeof arguments[i] === 'object') || (arguments[i] instanceof Object))
) {
array.push(arguments[i]);
}
}
if (array.length > 1) {
var a1 = array.slice();
var a2 = array.slice();
var len1 = a1.length;
var len2 = a2.length;
var noKeys = true;
var allKeysMatch = true;
for (var x = 0; x < len1; x++) {
console.log('---------- Start Object Check ---------');
//if (len2>0) {
// a2.shift();// remove next item
//}
len2 = a2.length;
if (len2 > 0 && allKeysMatch) {
for (var y = 0; y < len2; y++) {
if (x !== y) {// ignore objects checking themselves
//console.log('Object1: ' + JSON.stringify(a1[x]));
//console.log('Object2: ' + JSON.stringify(a2[y]));
console.log('Object1: ' + a1[x].toString());
console.log('Object2: ' + a2[y].toString());
var ownKeyCount1 = 0;
for (var key1 in a1[x]) {
if (a1[x].hasOwnProperty(key1)) {
// ---------- valid property to check ----------
ownKeyCount1++;
noKeys = false;
allKeysMatch = false;// prove all keys match!
var ownKeyCount2 = 0;
for (var key2 in a2[y]) {
if (a2[y].hasOwnProperty(key2) && !allKeysMatch) {
ownKeyCount2++;
if (key1 !== key1 && key2 !== key2) {// NaN check
allKeysMatch = true;// proven
break;
} else if (key1 === key2) {
if (a1[x][key1].toString() === a2[y][key2].toString()) {
allKeysMatch = true;// proven
console.log('KeyValueMatch=true : ' + key1 + ':' + a1[x][key1] + ' | ' + key2 + ':' + a2[y][key2]);
break;
}
}
}
}
if (ownKeyCount2 === 0) {// if second objects has no keys end early
console.log('-------------- End Check -------------');
return false;
}
// ---------------------------------------------
}
}
console.log('-------------- End Check -------------');
}
}
}
}
console.log('---------------------------------------');
if (noKeys || allKeysMatch) {
// If no keys in any objects, assume all objects are {} empty and so the same.
// If all keys match without errors, then all object match.
return true;
} else {
return false;
}
}
}
console.log('---------------------------------------');
return true;// one object
}
console.log('---------------------------------------');
return false;// no objects
} catch (e) {
if (typeof console !== 'undefined' && console.error) {
console.error('ERROR : Function ObjectCompare() : ' + e);
} else if (typeof console !== 'undefined' && console.warn) {
console.warn('WARNING : Function ObjectCompare() : ' + e);
} else if (typeof console !== 'undefined' && console.log) {
console.log('ERROR : Function ObjectCompare() : ' + e);
}
return false;
}
}
// TESTING...
var myObject1 = new Object({test: 1, item: 'hello', name: 'john', f: function(){var x=1;}});
var myObject2 = new Object({item: 'hello', name: 'john', test: 1, f: function(){var x=1;}});
var myObject3 = new Object({name: 'john', test: 1, item: 'hello', f: function(){var x=1;}});
// RETURNS TRUE
//console.log('DO ALL OBJECTS MATCH? ' + ObjectCompare(myObject1, myObject2, myObject3));

If you are using underscoreJs then you can simply use _.isEqual function
and it compares all keys and values at each and every level of hierarchy like below example.
var object = {"status":"inserted","id":"5799acb792b0525e05ba074c","data":{"workout":[{"set":[{"setNo":1,"exercises":[{"name":"hjkh","type":"Reps","category":"Cardio","set":{"reps":5}}],"isLastSet":false,"index":0,"isStart":true,"startDuration":1469689001989,"isEnd":true,"endDuration":1469689003323,"speed":"00:00:01"}],"setType":"Set","isSuper":false,"index":0}],"time":"2016-07-28T06:56:52.800Z"}};
var object1 = {"status":"inserted","id":"5799acb792b0525e05ba074c","data":{"workout":[{"set":[{"setNo":1,"exercises":[{"name":"hjkh","type":"Reps","category":"Cardio","set":{"reps":5}}],"isLastSet":false,"index":0,"isStart":true,"startDuration":1469689001989,"isEnd":true,"endDuration":1469689003323,"speed":"00:00:01"}],"setType":"Set","isSuper":false,"index":0}],"time":"2016-07-28T06:56:52.800Z"}};
console.log(_.isEqual(object, object1));//return true
If all the keys and values for those keys are same in both the objects then it will return true, otherwise return false.

Here is my attempt at validating JSON properties. I used #casey-foster 's approach, but added recursion for deeper validation. The third parameter in function is optional and only used for testing.
//compare json2 to json1
function isValidJson(json1, json2, showInConsole) {
if (!showInConsole)
showInConsole = false;
var aKeys = Object.keys(json1).sort();
var bKeys = Object.keys(json2).sort();
for (var i = 0; i < aKeys.length; i++) {
if (showInConsole)
console.log("---------" + JSON.stringify(aKeys[i]) + " " + JSON.stringify(bKeys[i]))
if (JSON.stringify(aKeys[i]) === JSON.stringify(bKeys[i])) {
if (typeof json1[aKeys[i]] === 'object'){ // contains another obj
if (showInConsole)
console.log("Entering " + JSON.stringify(aKeys[i]))
if (!isValidJson(json1[aKeys[i]], json2[bKeys[i]], showInConsole))
return false; // if recursive validation fails
if (showInConsole)
console.log("Leaving " + JSON.stringify(aKeys[i]))
}
} else {
console.warn("validation failed at " + aKeys[i]);
return false; // if attribute names dont mactch
}
}
return true;
}

Create a JavaScript object from keys which are dot separated in another object

I have a requirement where I have an object like obj={ 'a.b.c' : d }
and I would like it to get converted to {a:{b:{c:d}}}
Is there any way I can achieve this in JavaScript?

Here's a solution (EDITED: code is more complex than before but it gives the result you want, let me know if something doesn't work):
var obj = {
'a.b.c': 22,
'a.b.d.e': 42
}
var newObj = {};
for (var key in obj) {
if (obj.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
var keyList = key.split('.');
newObj = generateNewObject(keyList, keyList.length - 1, newObj, obj[key]);
}
}
console.log(newObj);
function generateNewObject(keys, index, existingObj, value) {
if (index < 0) {
return value;
}
var lastKey = keys[index--];
var existingProperty = getProperty(existingObj, lastKey);
if (existingProperty != null && !objectsAreEqual(existingProperty, value)) {
var valueKey = keys[index + 2];
existingProperty[lastKey][valueKey] = value[valueKey];
value = existingProperty;
} else {
var subObj = {};
subObj[lastKey] = value;
value = subObj;
}
return generateNewObject(keys, index, existingObj, value);
}
function objectsAreEqual(obj1, obj2) {
for (var key in obj1) {
if (obj1.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
var prop = getProperty(obj2, key);
if (prop == null) {
return false;
}
}
}
return true;
}
function getProperty(obj, keyDesired) {
for (var key in obj) {
if (obj.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
if (key === keyDesired) {
return obj;
} else {
var prop = getProperty(obj[key], keyDesired);
if (prop != null) {
return prop;
}
}
}
}
return null;
}
I don't know why you would have an object named that way, but this code will do the trick for each key in an object. This will not work correctly on nested objects such as {'a' : { 'b' { 'c' : {{'d' : 'e'}}}}}. You would have to repeat the for-loop part each time the value is a JavaScript object.
EDIT
I modified the code so it recognizes when two properties are the same such as the example { 'a.b.c' : 22 }, 'a.b.c.d.e' : 42. Sorry if it is hard to go through, but basically the generateNewObject method is the real meat of it. The two functions below it are just helper methods.

Array.reduce mostly is a good choice when it comes to handling/transforming of more complex data structures. An approach that solves the given problem generically whilst taking edge cases into account then might look similar to the next provided example ...
var
d = 'd',
q = 'q',
obj = {
'i.k.l.m.n.o.p' : q,
'a.b.c' : d,
'foo' : 'bar',
'' : 'empty'
};
function parseIntoNestedTypes(type) {
return Object.keys(type).reduce(function (collector, integralKey) {
var
nestedType = collector.target,
fragmentedKeyList = integralKey.split('.'),
nestedTypeRootKey = fragmentedKeyList.shift(),
nestedTypeEndValue = collector.source[integralKey];
if (fragmentedKeyList.length === 0) {
nestedType[nestedTypeRootKey] = nestedTypeEndValue;
} else {
nestedType[nestedTypeRootKey] = fragmentedKeyList.reduce(function (collector, key, idx, list) {
var
partialType = collector.partialType || collector.type;
if (idx < (list.length - 1)) {
partialType[key] = {};
} else {
partialType[key] = collector.value;
}
collector.partialType = partialType[key];
return collector;
}, {
value : nestedTypeEndValue,
type : {}
}).type;
}
return collector;
}, {
source: type,
target: {}
}).target;
}
console.log('parseIntoNestedTypes :: type', JSON.stringify(obj));
console.log('parseIntoNestedTypes :: nestedType', JSON.stringify(parseIntoNestedTypes(obj)));
console.log('parseIntoNestedTypes :: type, nestedType : ', obj, parseIntoNestedTypes(obj));

JavaScript Iterator Class

Do you know a JavaScript library that implements a generic Iterator class for collections (be it Arrays or some abstract Enumerable) with a full set of features, like the Google Common or the Apache Commons?
Edit: Enumerable#each is not an Iterator class. I'm looking for an Iterator, something that would let us write something like:
var iterator = new Iterator(myCollection);
for (var element = iterator.next(); iterator.hasNext(); element = iterator.next()) {
// iterator
}
Edit : mamoo reminded us of the Iterator implementation in Mozilla's Javascript 1.7. So the goal now is to find an implementation of this Iterator function in Javascript 1.5 (ECMA 4).
Edit2 : Why using an iterator when libraries (and ECMA 5) provide a each method? First, because each usually messes with this because the callback is call -ed (that's why each accepts a second argument in Prototype). Then, because people are much more familiar with the for(;;) construct than with the .each(callback) construct (at least, in my field). Lastly, because an iterator can iterate over plain objects (see JavaScript 1.7).
Edit3 : I accepted npup's anwser, but here is my shot at it :
function Iterator(o, keysOnly) {
if (!(this instanceof arguments.callee))
return new arguments.callee(o, keysOnly);
var index = 0, keys = [];
if (!o || typeof o != "object") return;
if ('splice' in o && 'join' in o) {
while(keys.length < o.length) keys.push(keys.length);
} else {
for (p in o) if (o.hasOwnProperty(p)) keys.push(p);
}
this.next = function next() {
if (index < keys.length) {
var key = keys[index++];
return keysOnly ? key : [key, o[key]];
} else throw { name: "StopIteration" };
};
this.hasNext = function hasNext() {
return index < keys.length;
};
}
var lang = { name: 'JavaScript', birthYear: 1995 };
var it = Iterator(lang);
while (it.hasNext()) {
alert(it.next());
}
//alert(it.next()); // A StopIteration exception is thrown
var langs = ['JavaScript', 'Python', 'C++'];
var it = Iterator(langs);
while (it.hasNext()) {
alert(it.next());
}
//alert(it.next()); // A StopIteration exception is thrown

Ok, the enumerable pattern is not a real iterator then.
Is this (below) useful for you? It conforms to the sematics you gave at least. As usual there are tradeoffs to be made here and there, and I didn't think very hard when deciding this time :).
And maybe you would like to be able to send in a number or two and iterate over a range in that way. But this could maybe be a start (there's support for iterating over hashes, arrays and strings).
It's a whole demo page which runs itself and does some debug output, but the (possibly) interesting stuff is in the
window.npup = (function() {
[...]
})();
spot.
Maybe it is just me who doesn't get it at all, but what would you use such a java-like Iterator for in a real situation?
Best
/npup
<html>
<head>
<title>untitled</title>
</head>
<body>
<ul id="output"></ul>
<script type="text/javascript">
window.log = (function (outputAreaId) {
var myConsole = document.getElementById(outputAreaId);
function createElem(color) {
var elem = document.createElement('li');
elem.style.color = color;
return elem;
}
function appendElem(elem) {
myConsole.appendChild(elem);
}
function debug(msg) {
var elem = createElem('#888');
elem.innerHTML = msg;
appendElem(elem);
}
function error(msg) {
var elem = createElem('#f88');
elem.innerHTML = msg;
appendElem(elem);
}
return {
debug: debug
, error: error
};
})('output');
window.npup = (function () {
// Array check as proposed by Mr. Crockford
function isArray(candidate) {
return candidate &&
typeof candidate==='object' &&
typeof candidate.length === 'number' &&
typeof candidate.splice === 'function' &&
!(candidate.propertyIsEnumerable('length'));
}
function dontIterate(collection) {
// put some checks chere for stuff that isn't iterable (yet)
return (!collection || typeof collection==='number' || typeof collection==='boolean');
}
function Iterator(collection) {
if (typeof collection==='string') {collection = collection.split('');}
if (dontIterate(collection)) {throw new Error('Oh you nasty man, I won\'t iterate over that ('+collection+')!');}
var arr = isArray(collection);
var idx = 0, top=0;
var keys = [], prop;
if (arr) {top = collection.length;}
else {for (prop in collection) {keys.push(prop);}}
this.next = function () {
if (!this.hasNext()) {throw new Error('Oh you nasty man. I have no more elements.');}
var elem = arr ? collection[idx] : {key:keys[idx], value:collection[keys[idx]]};
++idx;
return elem;
};
this.hasNext = function () {return arr ? idx<=top : idx<=keys.length;};
}
return {Iterator: Iterator};
})();
var element;
log.debug('--- Hash demo');
var o = {foo:1, bar:2, baz:3, bork:4, hepp: {a:1,b:2,c:3}, bluff:666, bluff2:777};
var iterator = new npup.Iterator(o);
for (element = iterator.next(); iterator.hasNext(); element = iterator.next()) {
log.debug('got elem from hash: '+element.key+' => '+element.value);
if (typeof element.value==='object') {
var i2 = new npup.Iterator(element.value);
for (var e2=i2.next(); i2.hasNext(); e2=i2.next()) {
log.debug(' # from inner hash: '+e2.key+' => '+e2.value);
}
}
}
log.debug('--- Array demo');
var a = [1,2,3,42,666,777];
iterator = new npup.Iterator(a);
for (element = iterator.next(); iterator.hasNext(); element = iterator.next()) {
log.debug('got elem from array: '+ element);
}
log.debug('--- String demo');
var s = 'First the pants, THEN the shoes!';
iterator = new npup.Iterator(s);
for (element = iterator.next(); iterator.hasNext(); element = iterator.next()) {
log.debug('got elem from string: '+ element);
}
log.debug('--- Emptiness demo');
try {
log.debug('Try to get next..');
var boogie = iterator.next();
}
catch(e) {
log.error('OW: '+e);
}
log.debug('--- Non iterables demo');
try{iterator = new npup.Iterator(true);} catch(e) {log.error('iterate over boolean: '+e);}
try{iterator = new npup.Iterator(6);} catch(e) {log.error('iterate over number: '+e);}
try{iterator = new npup.Iterator(null);} catch(e) {log.error('iterate over null: '+e);}
try{iterator = new npup.Iterator();} catch(e) {log.error('iterate over undefined: '+e);}
</script>
</body>
</html>

JQuery has the each() method:
http://api.jquery.com/jQuery.each/
but probably there's something similar even in other libraries such as Moo or Dojo.
Javascript 1.7 implements the Iterator function:
https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Core_JavaScript_1.5_Guide/Iterators_and_Generators

This is my attempt (jsfiddle) for ECMAScript 262 5th edition (aka Javascript). (Uses for example Object.keys and Array.isArray)
//Usage
b=Iterator(a);
while(b()){
console.log(b.value);
}
The code:
function Iterator(input,keys) {
// Input:
// input : object|array
// keys : array|undefined|boolean
function my() {
++my.index;
if (my.index >= my.keys.length) {
my.index = my.keys.length -1;
my.key = my.value = undefined;
return false;
}
my.key = my.useIndex ? my.index : my.keys[my.index];
my.value = my.input[my.key];
return my.index < my.keys.length;
}
if (input === null || typeof input !== 'object') {
throw new TypeError("'input' should be object|array");
}
if (
!Array.isArray(keys)
&& (typeof keys !== 'undefined')
&& (typeof keys !== 'boolean')
) {
throw new TypeError("'keys' should be array|boolean|undefined");
}
// Save a reference to the input object.
my.input = input;
if (Array.isArray(input)) {
//If the input is an array, set 'useIndex' to true if
//the internal index should be used as a key.
my.useIndex = !keys;
//Either create and use a list of own properties,
// or use the supplied keys
// or at last resort use the input (since useIndex is true in that
// case it is only used for the length)
my.keys = keys===true ? Object.keys(input) : keys || input;
} else {
my.useIndex = false;
my.keys = Array.isArray(keys) ? keys : Object.keys(input);
}
// Set index to before the first element.
my.index = -1;
return my;
}
Examples:
function Person(firstname, lastname, domain) {
this.firstname = firstname;
this.lastname = lastname;
this.domain = domain;
}
Person.prototype.type = 'Brillant';
var list = [
new Person('Paula','Bean','some.domain.name'),
new Person('John','Doe','another.domain.name'),
new Person('Johanna','Doe','yet.another.domain.name'),
];
var a,b;
var data_array = ['A','B','C','D','E','F'];
data_array[10]="Sparse";
console.log('Iterate over own keys in an object, unknown order');
a = Iterator(list[0]);
while(a()) console.log(" ",a.key, a.value);
console.log('Iterate over keys from anywhere, in specified order');
a = Iterator(list[0], ['lastname','firstname','type']);
while(a()) console.log(" ",a.key, a.value);
console.log('Iterate over all values in an array');
a = Iterator(list);
while(a()) console.log(a.key, a.value.firstname, a.value.lastname);
//Some abusing, that works for arrays (if the iterator.keys is modified
//it can also be used for objects)
console.log('Add more entries to the array, reusing the iterator...');
list.push(new Person('Another','Name','m.nu'));
while(a()) console.log(a.key, a.value.firstname, a.value.lastname);
console.log('Reset index and print everything again...');
a.index=-1; //Reset the index.
while(a()) console.log(a.key, a.value.firstname, a.value.lastname);
//With arrays, if setting 'keys' to true it will only print the
//elements that has values (If the array has more own enumerable values
//they too will be included)
console.log('Print sparce arrays...');
a = Iterator(data_array,true);
while(a()) console.log(a.key, a.value);

In the time since this question was asked JavaScript has added actual Iterators. Some built-in types, such as Array, Map, and String now have a default iteration behavior, but you can add your own to any object by including a next() function which returns one of two objects:
{done:true} /*or*/
{done:false, value:SOMEVALUE}
One way to access an object Iterator is with the:
for ( var of object ) { }
loop. Here is a (reasonably silly) example where we define an Iterator and then use it in such a loop to produce a string 1, 2, 3:
"use strict";
function count ( i ) {
let n = 0;
let I = {};
I[Symbol.iterator] = function() {
return { next: function() { return (n > i) ? {done:true}
: {done:false, value:n++} } } };
let s = "";
let c = "";
for ( let i of I ) { /* use the iterator we defined above */
s += c + i;
c = ", "
}
return s;
}
let s = count(3);
console.log(s);

Ive used LINQ to Javascript in a few projects.
http://jslinq.codeplex.com/Wikipage
var myList = [
{FirstName:"Chris",LastName:"Pearson"},
{FirstName:"Kate",LastName:"Johnson"},
{FirstName:"Josh",LastName:"Sutherland"},
{FirstName:"John",LastName:"Ronald"},
{FirstName:"Steve",LastName:"Pinkerton"}
];
var exampleArray = JSLINQ(myList)
.Where(function(item){ return item.FirstName == "Chris"; })
.OrderBy(function(item) { return item.FirstName; })
.Select(function(item){ return item.FirstName; });

I'm still a learner of js.class.
Though being close to Ruby, helps me.
http://jsclass.jcoglan.com/enumerable.html
MarkT

Since this hasn't been mention yet arrays have higher-order functions built in.
Map works like iterator that can only do a single pass.
[1,2,3,4,5].map( function(input){ console.log(input); } );
This code passes each element in the list into a function, in this case its a simple printer.
1
2
3
4
5

The $.param( ) inverse function in JavaScript / jQuery

Given the following form:
<form>
<input name="foo" value="bar">
<input name="hello" value="hello world">
</form>
I can use the $.param( .. ) construct to serialize the form:
$.param( $('form input') )
=> foo=bar&hello=hello+world
How can I deserialize the above String with JavaScript and get a hash back?
For example,
$.magicFunction("foo=bar&hello=hello+world")
=> {'foo' : 'bar', 'hello' : 'hello world'}
Reference: jQuery.param( obj ).

You should use jQuery BBQ's deparam function. It's well-tested and documented.

This is a slightly modified version of a function I wrote a while ago to do something similar.
var QueryStringToHash = function QueryStringToHash (query) {
var query_string = {};
var vars = query.split("&");
for (var i=0;i<vars.length;i++) {
var pair = vars[i].split("=");
pair[0] = decodeURIComponent(pair[0]);
pair[1] = decodeURIComponent(pair[1]);
// If first entry with this name
if (typeof query_string[pair[0]] === "undefined") {
query_string[pair[0]] = pair[1];
// If second entry with this name
} else if (typeof query_string[pair[0]] === "string") {
var arr = [ query_string[pair[0]], pair[1] ];
query_string[pair[0]] = arr;
// If third or later entry with this name
} else {
query_string[pair[0]].push(pair[1]);
}
}
return query_string;
};

How about this short functional approach?
function parseParams(str) {
return str.split('&').reduce(function (params, param) {
var paramSplit = param.split('=').map(function (value) {
return decodeURIComponent(value.replace(/\+/g, ' '));
});
params[paramSplit[0]] = paramSplit[1];
return params;
}, {});
}
Example:
parseParams("this=is&just=an&example") // Object {this: "is", just: "an", example: undefined}

My answer:
function(query){
var setValue = function(root, path, value){
if(path.length > 1){
var dir = path.shift();
if( typeof root[dir] == 'undefined' ){
root[dir] = path[0] == '' ? [] : {};
}
arguments.callee(root[dir], path, value);
}else{
if( root instanceof Array ){
root.push(value);
}else{
root[path] = value;
}
}
};
var nvp = query.split('&');
var data = {};
for( var i = 0 ; i < nvp.length ; i++ ){
var pair = nvp[i].split('=');
var name = decodeURIComponent(pair[0]);
var value = decodeURIComponent(pair[1]);
var path = name.match(/(^[^\[]+)(\[.*\]$)?/);
var first = path[1];
if(path[2]){
//case of 'array[level1]' || 'array[level1][level2]'
path = path[2].match(/(?=\[(.*)\]$)/)[1].split('][')
}else{
//case of 'name'
path = [];
}
path.unshift(first);
setValue(data, path, value);
}
return data;
}

I am using David Dorward's answer, and realized that it doesn't behave like PHP or Ruby on Rails how they parse the params:
1) a variable is only an array if it ends with [], such as ?choice[]=1&choice[]=12, not when it is ?a=1&a=2
2) when mulitple params exist with the same name, the later ones replaces the earlier ones, as on PHP servers (Ruby on Rails keep the first one and ignore the later ones), such as ?a=1&b=2&a=3
So modifying David's version, I have:
function QueryStringToHash(query) {
if (query == '') return null;
var hash = {};
var vars = query.split("&");
for (var i = 0; i < vars.length; i++) {
var pair = vars[i].split("=");
var k = decodeURIComponent(pair[0]);
var v = decodeURIComponent(pair[1]);
// If it is the first entry with this name
if (typeof hash[k] === "undefined") {
if (k.substr(k.length-2) != '[]') // not end with []. cannot use negative index as IE doesn't understand it
hash[k] = v;
else
hash[k.substr(0, k.length-2)] = [v];
// If subsequent entry with this name and not array
} else if (typeof hash[k] === "string") {
hash[k] = v; // replace it
// If subsequent entry with this name and is array
} else {
hash[k.substr(0, k.length-2)].push(v);
}
}
return hash;
};
which is tested fairly thoroughly.

I know this is an old thread, but maybe there is still some relevance in it?
Inspired by Jacky Li's good solution I tried a slight variation of my own with the objective to also be able to take care of arbitrary combinations of arrays and objects as input. I looked at how PHP would have done it and tried to get something "similar" going. Here is my code:
function getargs(str){
var ret={};
function build(urlnam,urlval,obj){ // extend the return object ...
var i,k,o=obj, x, rx=/\[([^\]]*)\]/g, idx=[urlnam.replace(rx,'')];
while (x=rx.exec(urlnam)) idx.push(x[1]);
while(true){
k=idx.shift();
if(k.trim()=='') {// key is empty: autoincremented index
if (o.constructor.name=='Array') k=o.length; // for Array
else if (o===obj ) {k=null} // for first level property name
else {k=-1; // for Object
for(i in o) if (+i>k) k=+i;
k++;
}
}
if(idx.length) {
// set up an array if the next key (idx[0]) appears to be
// numeric or empty, otherwise set up an object:
if (o[k]==null || typeof o[k]!='object') o[k]=isNaN(idx[0])?{}:[];
o=o[k]; // move on to the next level
}
else { // OK, time to store the urlval in its chosen place ...
// console.log('key',k,'val',urlval);
o[k]=urlval===""?null:urlval; break; // ... and leave the while loop.
}
}
return obj;
}
// ncnvt: is a flag that governs the conversion of
// numeric strings into numbers
var ncnvt=true,i,k,p,v,argarr=[],
ar=(str||window.location.search.substring(1)).split("&"),
l=ar.length;
for (i=0;i<l;i++) {if (ar[i]==="") continue;
p=ar[i].split("=");k=decodeURIComponent(p[0]);
v=p[1];v=(v!=null)?decodeURIComponent(v.replace(/\+/g,'%20')):'';
if (ncnvt && v.trim()>"" && !isNaN(v)) v-=0;
argarr.push([k,v]); // array: key-value-pairs of all arguments
}
for (i=0,l=argarr.length;i<l;i++) build(argarr[i][0],argarr[i][1],ret);
return ret;
}
If the function is called without the str-argument it will assume window.location.search.slice(1) as input.
Some examples:
['a=1&a=2', // 1
'x[y][0][z][]=1', // 2
'hello=[%22world%22]&world=hello', // 3
'a=1&a=2&&b&c=3&d=&=e&', // 4
'fld[2][]=2&fld[][]=3&fld[3][]=4&fld[]=bb&fld[]=cc', // 5
$.param({a:[[1,2],[3,4],{aa:'one',bb:'two'},[5,6]]}), // 6
'a[]=hi&a[]=2&a[3][]=7&a[3][]=99&a[]=13',// 7
'a[x]=hi&a[]=2&a[3][]=7&a[3][]=99&a[]=13'// 8
].map(function(v){return JSON.stringify(getargs(v));}).join('\n')
results in
{"a":2} // 1
{"x":{"y":[{"z":[1]}]}} // 2
{"hello":"[\"world\"]","world":"hello"} // 3
{"a":2,"b":null,"c":3,"d":null,"null":"e"} // 4 = { a: 2, b: null, c: 3, d: null, null: "e" }
{"fld":[null,null,[2],[3,4],"bb","cc"]} // 5
{"a":[[1,2],[3,4],{"aa":"one","bb":"two"},[5,6]]} // 6
{"a":["hi",2,null,[7,99],13]} // 7
{"a":{"0":2,"3":[7,99],"4":13,"x":"hi"}} // 8
Whereas Jacky Li's solution would produce the outer container for a as a plain object
{a:{"0":["1","2"],"1":["3","4"],"2":["5","6"]}} // 6: JackyLi's output
getargs() looks at the first given index for any level to determine whether this level will be an object (non-numeric index) or an array (numeric or empty), thus resulting in the output as shown in the listing bove (no. 6).
If the current object is an array then nulls get inserted wherever necessary to represent empty positions. Arrays are always consecutively numbered and 0-based).
Note, that in the example no. 8 the "autoincrement" for empty indices still works, even though we are dealing with an object now and not an array.
As far as I have tested it, my getargs() behaves pretty much identically to Chriss Roger's great jQuery $.deparam() plugin mentioned in the accepted answer. The main difference is that getargs runs without jQuery and that it does autoincrement in objects while $.deparam() will not do that:
JSON.stringify($.deparam('a[x]=hi&a[]=2&a[3][]=7&a[3][]=99&a[]=13').a);
results in
{"3":["7","99"],"x":"hi","undefined":"13"}
In $.deparam() the index [] is interpreted as an undefined instead of an autoincremented numerical index.

Here's how you could create a new jQuery function:
jQuery.unparam = function (value) {
var
// Object that holds names => values.
params = {},
// Get query string pieces (separated by &)
pieces = value.split('&'),
// Temporary variables used in loop.
pair, i, l;
// Loop through query string pieces and assign params.
for (i = 0, l = pieces.length; i < l; i++) {
pair = pieces[i].split('=', 2);
// Repeated parameters with the same name are overwritten. Parameters
// with no value get set to boolean true.
params[decodeURIComponent(pair[0])] = (pair.length == 2 ?
decodeURIComponent(pair[1].replace(/\+/g, ' ')) : true);
}
return params;
};

Thanks to him http://james.padolsey.com/javascript/parsing-urls-with-the-dom/
Pretty easy :D
function params_unserialize(p){
var ret = {},
seg = p.replace(/^\?/,'').split('&'),
len = seg.length, i = 0, s;
for (;i<len;i++) {
if (!seg[i]) { continue; }
s = seg[i].split('=');
ret[s[0]] = s[1];
}
return ret;}

This is really old question, but as i have coming - other people may coming to this post, and i want to a bit refresh this theme. Today no need to make custom solutions - there is URLSearchParams interface.
var paramsString = "q=URLUtils.searchParams&topic=api";
var searchParams = new URLSearchParams(paramsString);
//Iterate the search parameters.
for (let p of searchParams) {
console.log(p);
}
The only one limitation i know - this feature not supported in IE / Edge.

Here's my JavaScript implementation which I use in a server-side JScript ASP Classic page (demo):
// Transforms a query string in the form x[y][0][z][]=1 into {x:{y:[{z:[1]}]}}
function parseJQueryParams(p) {
var params = {};
var pairs = p.split('&');
for (var i=0; i<pairs.length; i++) {
var pair = pairs[i].split('=');
var indices = [];
var name = decodeURIComponent(pair[0]),
value = decodeURIComponent(pair[1]);
var name = name.replace(/\[([^\]]*)\]/g,
function(k, idx) { indices.push(idx); return ""; });
indices.unshift(name);
var o = params;
for (var j=0; j<indices.length-1; j++) {
var idx = indices[j];
var nextIdx = indices[j+1];
if (!o[idx]) {
if ((nextIdx == "") || (/^[0-9]+$/.test(nextIdx)))
o[idx] = [];
else
o[idx] = {};
}
o = o[idx];
}
idx = indices[indices.length-1];
if (idx == "") {
o.push(value);
}
else {
o[idx] = value;
}
}
return params;
}

I came up with this solution, which behaves like the .Net function HttpUtility.ParseQueryString.
In the result, the query string parameters are store in properties as lists of values, so that qsObj["param"] will be the same as calling GetValues("param") in .Net.
I hope you like it. JQuery not required.
var parseQueryString = function (querystring) {
var qsObj = new Object();
if (querystring) {
var parts = querystring.replace(/\?/, "").split("&");
var up = function (k, v) {
var a = qsObj[k];
if (typeof a == "undefined") {
qsObj[k] = [v];
}
else if (a instanceof Array) {
a.push(v);
}
};
for (var i in parts) {
var part = parts[i];
var kv = part.split('=');
if (kv.length == 1) {
var v = decodeURIComponent(kv[0] || "");
up(null, v);
}
else if (kv.length > 1) {
var k = decodeURIComponent(kv[0] || "");
var v = decodeURIComponent(kv[1] || "");
up(k, v);
}
}
}
return qsObj;
};
Here is how to use it:
var qsObj = parseQueryString("a=1&a=2&&b&c=3&d=&=e&");
To preview the result in the console juste type in:
JSON.stringify(qsObj)
Output:
"{"a":["1","2"],"null":["","b",""],"c":["3"],"d":[""],"":["e"]}"

There's a beautiful one-liner over at CSS-Tricks (original source from Nicholas Ortenzio):
function getQueryParameters(str) {
return (str || document.location.search).replace(/(^\?)/,'').split("&").map(function(n){return n = n.split("="),this[n[0]] = n[1],this}.bind({}))[0];
}
The really clever part is how it uses the anonymous function's this object, adding a key/value pair for each of the queries in the string. That said, there's some room for improvement. I've modified it a bit below, with the following changes:
Added handling of empty strings and non-string input.
Handled URI-encoded strings (%40->#, etc).
Removed the default use of document.location.search when the input was empty.
Changed the name, made it more readable, added comments.
function deparam(str) {
// Uses an empty 'this' to build up the results internally
function splitQuery(query) {
query = query.split('=').map(decodeURIComponent);
this[query[0]] = query[1];
return this;
}
// Catch bad input
if (!str || !(typeof str === 'string' || str instanceof String))
return {};
// Split the string, run splitQuery on each piece, and return 'this'
var queries = str.replace(/(^\?)/,'').split('&');
return queries.map(splitQuery.bind({}))[0];
}

use this :
// convert query string to json object
var queryString = "cat=3&sort=1&page=1";
queryString
.split("&")
.forEach((item) => {
const prop = item.split("=");
filter[prop[0]] = prop[1];
});
console.log(queryString);

This is my version in Coffeescript.
Also works for url like
http://localhost:4567/index.html?hello=[%22world%22]&world=hello#/home
getQueryString: (url)->
return null if typeof url isnt 'string' or url.indexOf("http") is -1
split = url.split "?"
return null if split.length < 2
path = split[1]
hash_pos = path.indexOf "#"
path = path[0...hash_pos] if hash_pos isnt -1
data = path.split "&"
ret = {}
for d in data
[name, val] = d.split "="
name = decodeURIComponent name
val = decodeURIComponent val
try
ret[name] = JSON.parse val
catch error
ret[name] = val
return ret

Here's a simple & compact one if you only want to quickly get the parameters from a GET request:
function httpGet() {
var a={},b,i,q=location.search.replace(/^\?/,"").split(/\&/);
for(i in q) if(q[i]) {b=q[i].split("=");if(b[0]) a[b[0]]=
decodeURIComponent(b[1]).replace(/\+/g," ");} return a;
}
It converts
something?aa=1&bb=2&cc=3
into an object like
{aa:1,bb:2,cc:3}

Creates a serialized representation of an array or object (can be used as URL query string for AJAX requests).
<button id='param'>GET</button>
<div id="show"></div>
<script>
$('#param').click(function () {
var personObj = new Object();
personObj.firstname = "vishal"
personObj.lastname = "pambhar";
document.getElementById('show').innerHTML=$.param(`personObj`));
});
</script>
output:firstname=vishal&lastname=pambhar

answers could use a bit of jQuery elegance:
(function($) {
var re = /([^&=]+)=?([^&]*)/g;
var decodeRE = /\+/g; // Regex for replacing addition symbol with a space
var decode = function (str) {return decodeURIComponent( str.replace(decodeRE, " ") );};
$.parseParams = function(query) {
var params = {}, e;
while ( e = re.exec(query) ) {
var k = decode( e[1] ), v = decode( e[2] );
if (k.substring(k.length - 2) === '[]') {
k = k.substring(0, k.length - 2);
(params[k] || (params[k] = [])).push(v);
}
else params[k] = v;
}
return params;
};
})(jQuery);
fork at https://gist.github.com/956897

You can use the function .serializeArray() (Link) of jQuery itself. This function returns an array of key-value pair. Result example:
[
{ name: "id", value: "1" },
{ name: "version", value: "100" }
]