JavaScript Array reduce() Method

Description

Javascript array reduce() method applies a function simultaneously against two values of the array (from left-to-right) as to reduce it to a single value.

Syntax

Its syntax is as follows −

array.reduce(callback[, initialValue]);

Parameter Details

callback − Function to execute on each value in the array.
initialValue − Object to use as the first argument to the first call of the callback.

Return Value

Returns the reduced single value of the array.

Compatibility

This method is a JavaScript extension to the ECMA-262 standard; as such it may not be present in other implementations of the standard. To make it work, you need to add the following code at the top of your script.

if (!Array.prototype.reduce) {
   Array.prototype.reduce = function(fun /*, initial*/) {
      var len = this.length;
      
      if (typeof fun != "function")
      throw new TypeError();
      
      // no value to return if no initial value and an empty array
      if (len == 0 && arguments.length == 1)
      throw new TypeError();
      
      var i = 0;
      if (arguments.length >= 2) {
         var rv = arguments[1];
      } else {
         do {
            if (i in this) {
               rv = this[i++];
               break;
            }
            
            // if array contains no values, no initial value to return
            if (++i >= len)
            throw new TypeError();
         }
         while (true);
      }
      for (; i < len; i++) {
         if (i in this)
         rv = fun.call(null, rv, this[i], i, this);
      }
      return rv;
   };
}

Example

Try the following example.

Live Demo

<html>
   <head>
      <title>JavaScript Array reduce Method</title>
   </head>
   
   <body>   
      <script type = "text/javascript">
         if (!Array.prototype.reduce) {
            Array.prototype.reduce = function(fun /*, initial*/) {
               var len = this.length;
               
               if (typeof fun != "function")
               throw new TypeError();
               
               // no value to return if no initial value and an empty array
               if (len == 0 && arguments.length == 1)
               throw new TypeError();
               
               var i = 0;
               if (arguments.length >= 2) {
                  var rv = arguments[1];
               } else {
                  do {
                     if (i in this) {
                        rv = this[i++];
                        break;
                     }
                     
                     // if array contains no values, no initial value to return
                     if (++i >= len)
                     throw new TypeError();
                  }
                  while (true);
               }
               for (; i < len; i++) {
                  if (i in this)
                  rv = fun.call(null, rv, this[i], i, this);
               }
               return rv;
            };
         }
         var total = [0, 1, 2, 3].reduce(function(a, b){ return a + b; });
         document.write("total is : " + total ); 
      </script>      
   </body>
</html>

Output

total is : 6

javascript_arrays_object.htm