Question

Is there a way to compare an integer against an array of integers? For instance, to determine if an int is larger than any of the array ints?

var array = [1, 2, 3, 4];
if(5 > array){ 
    // do something 
}

Update: I guess I meant, is 5 larger than the largest number in the array. Thanks!

Answer 1

You can use Math.max and apply

if (5 > Math.max.apply(Math, array)) {
    // do something
}

Update: To explain as it works. It’s described in the docs I linked but I will try to be more clear here:

Math.max returns the largest of zero or more numbers, so:

Math.max(1, 2, 3, 4) // returns 4

apply calls a function with a given ‘this’ value (the first argument) and arguments provided as an array (the second). so:

function sum(a, b) {
    return a + b;
}

console.log(sum.apply(window, [2, 3])); // 5

Therefore, if you have an array of integers and you want to get the max, you can combine them to have:

console.log(Math.max.apply(Math, [1, 2, 3, 4])); // 4

Because it’s exactly like have:

console.log(Math.max(1, 2, 3, 4));

The difference is you pass an array instead.

Hope it’s more clear now!