How to compare two arrays in JavaScript ?

In this article, we will see how to compare two arrays in JavaScript. First, we need to compare the length of both arrays should be the same or not, and then whether objects present in them are of the same type and each item of one array is equal to the other array or not. By doing this, we can conclude whether both arrays are the same or not.

Methods to compare two arrays in Javascript:

• Using the JSON.stringify() Method
• Using for Loop
• Using the Equality Operator

Using the JSON.stringify() Method: JavaScript provides a function JSON.stringify() method in order to convert an object or array into a JSON string. By converting it into JSON strings, we can directly check if the strings are equal or not.

Example: This example uses JSON.stringify() method to convert an object or array into a JSON string, then accordingly check for the given condition. If it satisfies the specific condition then it returns true otherwise, it will return false.

Javascript

// Declare two arrays
let arr1 = [1, 2, 3, 5];
let arr2 = [1, 2, 3, 5];

// Comparing both arrays using stringify method
if (JSON.stringify(arr1) == JSON.stringify(arr2))
    console.log("True");
else
    console.log("False");

// Declare another array
let arr3 = [1, 2, 4, 5];

// Comparing both arrays using stringify method
if (JSON.stringify(arr1) == JSON.stringify(arr3))
    console.log("True");
else
    console.log("False");

Output

True
False

Example 2: In this example, we manually check each and every item and return true if they are equal otherwise return false.

Javascript

function isEqual() {
    var a = [1, 2, 3, 5];
    var b = [1, 2, 3, 5];

    // If length is not equal
    if (a.length != b.length)
        return "False";
    else {

        // Comparing each element of array
        for (var i = 0; i < a.length; i++)
            if (a[i] != b[i])
                return "False";
        return "True";
    }
}
var v = isEqual();
console.log(v);

Output:

True

Example 3: String Comparison

While JavaScript does not have an inbuilt method to directly compare two arrays, it does have inbuilt methods to compare two strings. Strings can also be compared using the equality operator. Therefore, we can convert the arrays to strings, using the Array join() method, and then check if the strings are equal.

Javascript

//JavaScript program to implement the approach

//function that converts the arrays to strings
//and then compares the strings
function isEqual(a, b) {
    return a.join() == b.join();
}

//Driver Code
var a = [1, 2, 3, 5];
var b = [1, 2, 3, 5];
console.log(isEqual(a, b));

Output:

true

JavaScript is best known for web page development but it is also used in a variety of non-browser environments. You can learn JavaScript from the ground up by following this JavaScript Tutorial and JavaScript Examples.