Search through NSArray for string

Question

I would like to search through my NSArray for a certain string.

Example:

NSArray has the objects: \"dog\", \"cat\", \"fat dog\", \"thing\", \"another thing\"

Answer 1

It would not work because as per document "indexOfObjectIdenticalTo:" returns the index of the first object that has the same memory address as the object you are passing in.

you need to traverse through your array and compare.

Answer 2

Not tested so might have a syntax error, but you'll get the idea.

NSArray* inputArray = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:@"dog", @"cat", @"fat dog", @"thing", @"another thing", @"heck here's another thing", nil];

NSMutableArray* containsAnother = [NSMutableArray array];
NSMutableArray* doesntContainAnother = [NSMutableArray array];

for (NSString* item in inputArray)
{
  if ([item rangeOfString:@"another"].location != NSNotFound)
    [containsAnother addObject:item];
  else
    [doesntContainAnother addObject:item];
}

Answer 3

If the strings inside the array are known to be distinct, you can use sets. NSSet is faster then NSArray on large inputs:

NSArray * inputArray = [NSMutableArray arrayWithObjects:@"one", @"two", @"one again", nil];

NSMutableSet * matches = [NSMutableSet setWithArray:inputArray];
[matches filterUsingPredicate:[NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:@"SELF contains[c] 'one'"]];

NSMutableSet * notmatches = [NSMutableSet setWithArray:inputArray];
[notmatches  minusSet:matches];