🌟 Why console.log([1,2] === [1,2]) Evaluates to False?
👉 In JavaScript, when you compare two arrays using the === operator, you might expect the comparison to return true if both arrays contain the same elements in the same order.
👉However, if you try running console.log([1,2] === [1,2]), you'll find that it outputs false. This result can be perplexing at first glance. Let's unravel this mystery.
👉The === operator in JavaScript is known as the "strict equality" operator. It checks for both value and type equality.
👉However, when it comes to comparing objects (and arrays are a type of object in JavaScript), the === operator compares their references, not their contents. In other words, === checks to see if both operands point to the same object in memory.
👉Why [1,2] === [1,2] Evaluates to False ?
When you compare [1,2] === [1,2], you are comparing two separate arrays that happen to contain the same values. Despite their identical contents, these arrays are distinct objects stored in different locations in memory. Since their references are not the same, the comparison returns false.
👉 So, How to Correctly Compare Arrays ?
Since direct comparison using === doesn't work as expected for arrays, you might wonder how to check if two arrays contain the same elements in the same order.
🌟 One quick but not always recommended method is to compare the JSON string representations of the arrays. (Check The 2nd slide to check how to do it).
🌟Manual Comparison
A more reliable approach involves manually comparing the length and each element of the arrays. (Check Slide 3 for the code)
👉So, the next time you find yourself debugging a piece of JavaScript, remember the tale of the == operator. It's a quirky story, but one that encapsulates the essence of navigating the eccentricities of programming languages. And who knows? It might just save you from a headache or two down the road.
