Most efficient way to create a zero filled JavaScript array?

Question

What is the most efficient way to create an arbitrary length zero filled array in JavaScript?

Answer 1

It might be worth pointing out, that Array.prototype.fill had been added as part of the ECMAScript 6 (Harmony) proposal. I would rather go with the polyfill written below, before considering other options mentioned on the thread.

if (!Array.prototype.fill) {
  Array.prototype.fill = function(value) {

    // Steps 1-2.
    if (this == null) {
      throw new TypeError('this is null or not defined');
    }

    var O = Object(this);

    // Steps 3-5.
    var len = O.length >>> 0;

    // Steps 6-7.
    var start = arguments[1];
    var relativeStart = start >> 0;

    // Step 8.
    var k = relativeStart < 0 ?
      Math.max(len + relativeStart, 0) :
      Math.min(relativeStart, len);

    // Steps 9-10.
    var end = arguments[2];
    var relativeEnd = end === undefined ?
      len : end >> 0;

    // Step 11.
    var final = relativeEnd < 0 ?
      Math.max(len + relativeEnd, 0) :
      Math.min(relativeEnd, len);

    // Step 12.
    while (k < final) {
      O[k] = value;
      k++;
    }

    // Step 13.
    return O;
  };
}