How do I check if an array includes a value in JavaScript?

Question

What is the most concise and efficient way to find out if a JavaScript array contains a value?

This is the only way I know to do it:

function contains(a, obj) {
    for (var i = 0; i < a.length; i++) {
        if (a[i] === obj) {
            return true;
        }
    }
    return false;
}

Is there a better and more concise way to accomplish this?

This is very closely related to Stack Overflow question Best way to find an item in a JavaScript Array? which addresses finding objects in an array using indexOf.

Answer 1

Modern browsers have Array#includes, which does exactly that and is widely supported by everyone except IE:

console.log(['joe', 'jane', 'mary'].includes('jane')); //true

You can also use Array#indexOf, which is less direct, but doesn't require polyfills for outdated browsers.

console.log(['joe', 'jane', 'mary'].indexOf('jane') >= 0); //true

---

Many frameworks also offer similar methods:

• jQuery: $.inArray(value, array, [fromIndex])
• Underscore.js: _.contains(array, value) (also aliased as _.include and _.includes)
• Dojo Toolkit: dojo.indexOf(array, value, [fromIndex, findLast])
• Prototype: array.indexOf(value)
• MooTools: array.indexOf(value)
• MochiKit: findValue(array, value)
• MS Ajax: array.indexOf(value)
• Ext: Ext.Array.contains(array, value)
• Lodash: _.includes(array, value, [from]) (is _.contains prior 4.0.0)
• Ramda: R.includes(value, array)

Notice that some frameworks implement this as a function, while others add the function to the array prototype.