Array.includes() to find object in array

Question

I\'m attempting to find an object in an array using Array.prototype.includes. Is this possible? I realize there is a difference between shallow and deep compari

Answer 1

You are on the right track but, the issue is the difference between reference and value types, you currently are using a reference type (object literal), so when you compare what is in the array with what you have, it will compare the references and not the values. this is what I mean:

    var ar = [];
    var x = {a: "b", c: "d" };
    ar.push(x);

    // this will log true because its the same reference
    console.log("should be true: ", ar[0] === x);

    ar.push({a: "b", c: "d" });
    // this will log false because i have created 
    // a different reference for a new object.
    console.log("should be false: ", ar[1] === x);
    
    // Think of it like this
    var obja = { foo: "bar" }; // new reference to 'obja'
    var objb = { foo: "bar" }; // new reference to 'objb'
    var valuea = 23;
    var valueb = 23;
    
    // 'obja' and 'obja' are different references
    // although they contain same property & value
    // so a test for equality will return false
    console.log("should be false: ", obja === objb);

    // on the other hand 'valuea' and 'valueb' are 
    // both value types, so an equality test will be true
    console.log("should be true: ", valuea === valueb);

to achieve what you want, you either have to have added the actual reference, as I did above, or loop through the array and compare by unique property of the objects.