Lodash _.isPlainObject() Lang Method

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In the vast landscape of JavaScript, understanding the nature of objects is fundamental. The Lodash utility library provides a wealth of functions, and among them, the _.isPlainObject() method stands out.

This method is designed to determine whether a value is a plain object created using the {} syntax or constructed with new Object(). By gaining insights into object types, developers can enhance the robustness of their code and make informed decisions during runtime.

🧠 Understanding _.isPlainObject() Method

The _.isPlainObject() method in Lodash checks if a given value is a plain object. A plain object is an object created using the object literal syntax {} or constructed with new Object().

💡 Syntax

The syntax for the _.isPlainObject() method is straightforward:

syntax.js

Copied

_.isPlainObject(value)

• value: The value to check.

📝 Example

Let's dive into a simple example to illustrate the usage of the _.isPlainObject() method:

example.js

Copied

const _ = require('lodash');

const plainObject = { key: 'value' };
const nonPlainObject = new Map();

console.log(_.isPlainObject(plainObject)); // Output: true
console.log(_.isPlainObject(nonPlainObject)); // Output: false

In this example, _.isPlainObject() correctly identifies plainObject as a plain object and nonPlainObject as not being a plain object.

🏆 Best Practices

When working with the _.isPlainObject() method, consider the following best practices:

1. Verify Object Type:

   Use _.isPlainObject() to verify whether a variable is a plain object before applying object-specific operations. This ensures that your code operates on the expected data type.

   example.js

   Copied

   

   const potentialObject = /* ...some variable... */ ;
   
   if (_.isPlainObject(potentialObject)) {
     // Safely perform operations on potentialObject
     console.log('Valid plain object:', potentialObject);
   } else {
     console.error('Not a plain object:', potentialObject);
   }

2. Avoid False Positives:

   Be cautious with complex objects or instances of custom classes. _.isPlainObject() is designed to identify simple, plain objects and may return false for instances of more complex object types.

   example.js

   Copied

   

   class CustomObject {
     constructor() {
       this.property = 'value';
     }
   }
   
   const customInstance = new CustomObject();
   
   console.log(_.isPlainObject(customInstance)); // Output: false

3. Combine with Other Type Checks:

   When dealing with various data types, combine _.isPlainObject() with other type-checking methods to ensure comprehensive validation.

   example.js

   Copied

   

   const data = /* ...some data... */ ;
   
   if (_.isArray(data)) {
     console.log('Array detected');
   } else if (_.isPlainObject(data)) {
     console.log('Plain object detected');
   } else {
     console.log('Other data type detected');
   }

📚 Use Cases

1. Configuration Objects:

   In scenarios where configuration objects play a crucial role, _.isPlainObject() can be employed to validate user-provided settings, ensuring they conform to the expected structure.

   example.js

   Copied

   

   const userConfig = /* ...user-provided configuration... */ ;
   
   if (_.isPlainObject(userConfig)) {
     // Process user configuration
     console.log('Valid configuration:', userConfig);
   } else {
     console.error('Invalid configuration:', userConfig);
   }

2. Input Validation:

   When building functions that expect plain objects as parameters, use _.isPlainObject() for input validation to prevent unexpected data types.

   example.js

   Copied

   

   function processData(input) {
     if (!_.isPlainObject(input)) {
       throw new Error('Invalid input. Expected a plain object.');
     }
   
     // Continue processing data
     console.log('Processing data:', input);
   }
   
   const userInput = /* ...user-provided data... */ ;
   
   processData(userInput);

3. Safeguarding Object Operations:

   Before performing object-specific operations, utilize _.isPlainObject() to safeguard your code and prevent errors resulting from unexpected data types.

   example.js

   Copied

   

   function performObjectOperation(obj) {
     if (!_.isPlainObject(obj)) {
       console.error('Invalid input. Expected a plain object.');
       return;
     }
   
     // Continue with object-specific operations
     console.log('Object operation successful:', obj);
   }
   
   const dataToOperateOn = /* ...some data... */ ;
   
   performObjectOperation(dataToOperateOn);

🎉 Conclusion

The _.isPlainObject() method in Lodash is a valuable tool for JavaScript developers seeking to ascertain whether a value is a plain object. By incorporating this method into your code, you can enhance the reliability of type-checking operations and make informed decisions based on the nature of the data.

By adhering to best practices and exploring diverse use cases, you can harness the full potential of the _.isPlainObject() method in your Lodash projects.

👨‍💻 Join our Community:

To get interesting news and instant updates on Front-End, Back-End, CMS and other Frameworks. Please Join the Telegram Channel:

Telegram 450

Author

👋 Hey, I'm Mari Selvan

For over eight years, I worked as a full-stack web developer. Now, I have chosen my profession as a full-time blogger at codetofun.com.

Buy me a coffee to make codetofun.com free for everyone.

Buy me a Coffee

Share Your Findings to All