Question

Really like that function.

$matches = array('12', 'watt');
list($value, $unit) = $matches;

Is there a Javascript equivalent of that?

Answer 1

There is, in ‘newer’ versions of Javascript: Destructuring assignment – Javascript 1.7. It’s probably only supported in Mozilla-based browsers, and maybe in Rhino.

var a = 1;  
var b = 3;  

[a, b] = [b, a];  

EDIT: actually it wouldn’t surprise me if the V8 Javascript library (and thus Chrome) supports this. But don’t count on it either
Now supported in all modern browsers(except IE, of course).