Tutorials

Lodash _.values() Object Method

Posted in lodash Tutorial

Updated on Mar 14, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 33 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In JavaScript, objects are fundamental data structures used to store key-value pairs. While working with objects, developers often need to extract the values associated with the keys for various operations. The Lodash library simplifies this task with its _.values() method, which retrieves the values of an object's own enumerable properties into an array.

This method provides a convenient and efficient way to access and manipulate object values in JavaScript applications.

🧠 Understanding _.values() Method

The _.values() method in Lodash allows developers to extract the values of an object and store them in an array. This array can then be used for further processing, such as iteration, filtering, or transformation. By abstracting the process of extracting object values into a single method, Lodash streamlines code and enhances readability.

💡 Syntax

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

syntax.js

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_.values(object)

object: The object whose values will be retrieved.

📝 Example

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

example.js

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const _ = require('lodash');

const sampleObject = { a: 1, b: 2, c: 3 };
const objectValues = _.values(sampleObject);

console.log(objectValues);
// Output: [1, 2, 3]

In this example, _.values() is applied to the sampleObject, resulting in an array containing its values.

🏆 Best Practices

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

Check for Object Validity:

Before applying _.values(), ensure that the input is a valid object to prevent runtime errors.
example.js
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```
const invalidObject = 'This is not an object';
const objectValues = _.values(invalidObject);

console.log(objectValues);
// Output: []
```

Enumerate Own Properties:

_.values() retrieves the values of an object's own enumerable properties. Be aware that inherited properties or non-enumerable properties will not be included in the result.

example.js

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function SampleClass() {
    this.a = 1;
    this.b = 2;
}

SampleClass.prototype.c = 3;

const sampleInstance = new SampleClass();
const instanceValues = _.values(sampleInstance);

console.log(instanceValues);
// Output: [1, 2]

Use with Object Destructuring:

Combine _.values() with object destructuring for concise and expressive code when extracting values from objects.

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const user = { id: 1, name: 'John Doe', email: 'john@example.com' };
const { name, email } = user;

console.log(name, email);
// Output: John Doe john@example.com

📚 Use Cases

Iteration and Transformation:

_.values() facilitates iteration over object values, enabling transformations or computations based on those values.

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const salesData = {
    product1: 100,
    product2: 200,
    product3: 150,
};

const totalSales = _.sum(_.values(salesData));

console.log(totalSales);
// Output: 450

Data Manipulation:

Object values extracted with _.values() can be manipulated or processed further to derive insights or prepare data for display.

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const userData = {
  user1: { name: 'Alice', age: 30 },
  user2: { name: 'Bob', age: 25 },
  user3: { name: 'Charlie', age: 35 },
};

const userAges = _.mapValues(userData, user => user.age);
const averageAge = _.mean(_.values(userAges));

console.log(averageAge);
// Output: 30

🎉 Conclusion

The _.values() method in Lodash simplifies the extraction of object values, providing developers with a concise and efficient solution for accessing and manipulating object data in JavaScript applications. By leveraging this method, developers can streamline their code and enhance productivity when working with object-oriented data structures.

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