JavaScript reduce() method

We are checking out some helpful array methods, and today we are looking at the reduce() method.

The reduce method can be used to convert our array to one specific single value.

Also, check out my article on the JavaScript filter() method

Using the Javascript reduce() method permalink

The reduce can be used, for instance, to count a total. Let’s say we have the following array.

const items = [
  { name: 'T-shirt plain', price: 9 },
  { name: 'T-shirt print', price: 20 },
  { name: 'Jeans', price: 30 },
  { name: 'Cap', price: 5 },
];

How can we now get a total of all these items?

const reduced = items.reduce((total, item) => {
  total += item.price;
  return total;
}, 0);

// 64

We are giving the argument total, which is the initialValue. The next argument is the currentValue. Then, we add the price to our total value.

Then at the end, you see a 0 defined. This is the initialValue default.

The arguments for the reduce are as follows:

const new = original.reduce(function(total, current, index, array), initialValue);

Where the following applies:

• total: Required, the initial value
• current: Required, the value of the current index
• index: Optional, array index of the current row
• array: Optional, current array row belongs to.
• initialValue: Optional value to be defined as a starting point.

You can, of course, also only count specific items. Let’s say we have discounted items and only want to count those:

const items = [
  { name: 'T-shirt plain', price: 9, discount: true },
  { name: 'T-shirt print', price: 20, discount: false },
  { name: 'Jeans', price: 30, discount: true },
  { name: 'Cap', price: 5, discount: false },
];

const reduced = items.reduce((total, item) => {
  if (item.discount) total += item.price;
  return total;
}, 0);

// 39

As you can see, compelling but easy-to-implement method. It cuts down on a lot of loop logic.

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