Question

I have an array of objects. The constructor is

Planet : function(planet)
{
    this.name = planet.name;
    this.percComp = planet.percComp;
    this.preReq = planet.preReq;
}

Is there a way using jquery or underscore to get an object or objects, out of the array based on the objects parameter.

Something like

_getItem(planetArray, Planet.name === 'Mars')

Answer 1

try Underscore’s where method

_.where(listOfPlanets, {name: "Mars"});

Say you have the following list of planets – prop is a made up property

var listOfPlanets = [
    { name: 'Mercury', prop:1},
    { name: 'Venus', prop:2},
    { name: 'Earth', prop:3},
    { name: 'Mars', prop:4},
    { name: 'Jupiter', prop:5},
    { name: 'Saturn', prop:6},
    { name: 'Uranus', prop:7},
    { name: 'Neptune', prop:8} ];

To get the Mars object just do the following. Keep in mind that _.where returns an array of matches. Accessing the index 0 or using _.first will be needed

var mars = _.where(listOfPlanets, {name: "Mars"})[0];
console.log(mars.prop);    // 4

Underscore also has a _.find method, which can be used to retrieve only the first match

var mars = _.find(listOfPlanets, function(p){ return p.name === 'Mars' });
console.log(mars.prop);    // 4

JSFiddle here: http://jsfiddle.net/jaimem/6bxnK/1/