Convert Javascript Array to String

Introduction

Learn how to convert an Array to string, separated with or without commas by using join(), JSON.stringify() and toString() methods.

Description

Arrays in Javascript don't have a type of their own. However, arrays are list-like objects. Setting or accessing items in the array can be done by using integers as element indexes.

let fruits = ["🍏 apple", "🍌 banana", "🍉 watermelon", "🥭 mango"];

console.log(fruits[0]);
// 🍏 apple

Convert Javascript Array to String using toString() method

Let's say we want to convert the whole fruits array to string. If we don't mind the annoying commas, we can use the toString() method.

let fruits = ["🍏 apple", "🍌 banana", "🍉 watermelon", "🥭 mango"];

let fruitsToString = fruits.toString();

console.log(fruitsToString);
// "🍏 apple,🍌 banana,🍉 watermelon,🥭 mango"

Well, maybe that is what you are looking for. But, what if you have objects in your array? Let's take a look:

let fruitsObj = [
  { name: "🍏 apple" },
  { name: "🍌 banana" },
  { name: "🍉 watermelon" },
  { name: "🥭 mango" },
];

let fruitsToString = fruitsObj.toString();

console.log(fruitsToString);
// "[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]"

We can't use the toString() method here, but we can use the JSON.stringify() method instead.

let fruitsObj = [
  { name: "🍏 apple" },
  { name: "🍌 banana" },
  { name: "🍉 watermelon" },
  { name: "🥭 mango" },
];

let fruitsToString = JSON.stringify(fruitsObj);

console.log(fruitsToString);
// "[{'name':'🍏 apple'},{'name':'🍌 banana'},{'name':'🍉 watermelon'},{'name':'🥭 mango'}]"

Convert Javascript Array to String using join() method

The join() method creates and returns a new string by concatenating all the elements in the array.
By default, the items are separated by commas. You can use a custom separator if that is what you are looking for.

let fruits = ["🍏 apple", "🍌 banana", "🍉 watermelon", "🥭 mango"];

console.log(fruits.join());
// "🍏 apple,🍌 banana,🍉 watermelon,🥭 mango"

console.log(fruits.join(" "));
// "🍏 apple 🍌 banana 🍉 watermelon 🥭 mango"

console.log(fruits.join(" | "));
// "🍏 apple | 🍌 banana | 🍉 watermelon | 🥭 mango"

If you want to return a string without any space between the items, you can use join("").

let fruits = ["🍏 apple", "🍌 banana", "🍉 watermelon", "🥭 mango"];

console.log(fruits.join(""));
// "🍏 apple🍌 banana🍉 watermelon🥭 mango"