Return multiple values from a function in JavaScript

This post will discuss how to return multiple values from a function in JavaScript.

1. Using an Array

We can return an array that contains the multiple values we want to return, and then access them by their index or use the destructuring assignment syntax to unpack them into variables. Here’s an example of how we can achieve this:

function getValues() {

return [1, 2]; // return an array with two elements

}

let values = getValues();

// access the values by index

let first = values[0];

let second = values[1];

// First: 1, Second: 2

console.log(`First: ${first}, Second: ${second}`);

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We can use a destructuring assignment to assign multiple values to variables directly from the function call, without explicitly accessing individual elements an array. This saves us from creating intermediate variables. For example, the following code uses the destructuring assignment to unpack values from arrays into corresponding variables.

function getValues() {

return [1,2];

}

// use destructuring assignment

const [first, second] = getValues(); // assign `first` and `second` variables from the array

// First: 1, Second: 2

console.log(`First: ${first}, Second: ${second}`);

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2. Using an Object

Another approach is to return an object that has properties for each value we want to return, and then access them by their property name or use the object destructuring syntax to unpack them into variables. Here’s an example of how we can achieve this:

function getValues() {

return { x: 1, y: 2 };

}

let values = getValues();

// access the values by dot notation

let first = values.x;

let second = values.y;

// First: 1, Second: 2

console.log(`First: ${first}, Second: ${second}`);

// or use destructuring assignment to assign variables from the function call

const {x, y} = getValues();

// x: 1, y: 2

console.log(`x: ${x}, y: ${y}`);

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3. Using a Generator

A third option is to return a generator that yields the multiple values we want to return, and then use the next() function or the for…of loop to iterate over the values. Here’s an example of how we can achieve this:

function* getValues() {

yield 1; // yield first value

yield 2; // yield second value

}

// get the generator object

let values = getValues();

// use next function to access the values

let first = values.next().value; // get the first value

let second = values.next().value; // get the second value

// or use for…of loop to iterate over the values

for (let name of getNames()) {

// do something with name

}

// First: 1, Second: 2

console.log(`First: ${first}, Second: ${second}`);

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That’s all about returning multiple values from a function in JavaScript.

Return multiple values from a function in JavaScript

1. Using an Array

2. Using an Object

3. Using a Generator

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