Filtering array of objects by searching nested object properties

Question

I have an array of objects that I want to filter by comparing a nested property to a search term.

For example:

 var array = [
      {category: \'Bus         


        

Answer 1

Note: I am taking a shortcut-like approach to this, primarily to provide a different perspective to the problem.

Instead of deep-searching the properties and arrays under the main array, you can create a json string of the users property and search within that. So I have created a new property usersString that temporarily stores the JSON string of the value against users property.

item.usersString = JSON.stringify(item.users);

Now, this would not be a perfect implementation, but it would almost always work. Also, if you stored this property within the browser (without storing it back to the DB), and used it to quick-search for every time user searches, I think it would be more performant that deep-searching entire array.

var array = [{
    category: 'Business',
    users: [{
        name: 'Sally',
        tags: [{
          tag: 'accounting'
        }, {
          tag: 'marketing'
        }]
      },
      {
        name: 'Bob',
        tags: [{
          tag: 'sales'
        }, {
          tag: 'accounting'
        }]
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    category: 'Heritage',
    users: [{
        name: 'Linda',
        tags: [{
          tag: 'Italy'
        }, {
          tag: 'Macedonia'
        }]
      },
      {
        name: 'George',
        tags: [{
          tag: 'South Africa'
        }, {
          tag: 'Chile'
        }]
      }
    ]
  }
];

var key = "market";

// Convert the users property into a string - so that it works as a quick search target.
array.forEach(function(item) {
  item.usersString = JSON.stringify(item.users);
});


var filteredItems = array.filter(function(item) {
  return item.usersString.toLowerCase().indexOf(key.toLowerCase()) >= 0;
});

// Delete the usersString property - if required.
filteredItems.forEach(function(item) {
  item.usersString = undefined;
  // Or,
  // delete item.usersString;
})

console.log(filteredItems);