Lodash _.meanBy() Method

Syntax, Parameter and Return Value

Syntax: 

_.meanBy(array, [iteratee=_.identity])

Parameters:

• array (Array): The array to iterate over.
   
• [iteratee=_.identity] (Function|Object|String): The iteratee invoked per element to generate the criterion by which the mean is calculated.

Return Value: 

(Number) - Returns the mean of the array values based on the iteratee.

Examples 

Calculating Average of a Specific Property:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var _ = require('lodash');

var products = [

  { name: 'Product 1', price: 100 },

  { name: 'Product 2', price: 200 },

  { name: 'Product 3', price: 150 }

];

var averagePrice = _.meanBy(products, (p) => p.price);

console.log(averagePrice); 

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Output:

150

Demonstrates calculating the average price of products.

Using Property Name Shorthand:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var employees = [

  { name: 'John', age: 28 },

  { name: 'Jane', age: 34 },

  { name: 'Joe', age: 26 }

];

var averageAge = _.meanBy(employees, 'age');

console.log(averageAge); 

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Output: 

29.333...

Shows the use of property name shorthand for calculating the average age.

Average Calculation in Data Analysis:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var data = [

  { month: 'January', sales: 80 },

  { month: 'February', sales: 120 },

  { month: 'March', sales: 100 }

];

var averageSales = _.meanBy(data, 'sales');

console.log('Average Sales:', averageSales); 

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Output:

'Average Sales: 100'

An example of using _.meanBy() in a data analysis context to find average sales.

Handling Complex Structures:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var measurements = [

  { item: 'Item1', dimensions: { length: 10, width: 5 }},

  { item: 'Item2', dimensions: { length: 15, width: 10 }}

];

var averageLength = _.meanBy(measurements, item => item.dimensions.length);

console.log('Average Length:', averageLength); 

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Output: 

'Average Length: 12.5'

Demonstrates calculating the average length from a complex data structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does _.meanBy() handle non-numeric values?

_.meanBy() ignores non-numeric values when calculating the mean. If the iteratee function returns non-numeric values, they may affect the calculation, leading to unexpected results or NaN.

What happens if the array is empty or the property is missing?

If the array is empty or the specified property does not exist on any object in the array, _.meanBy() returns NaN.

Can _.meanBy() be used with arrays of simple values?

For arrays of simple values (like numbers), _.mean() is more suitable. _.meanBy() is specifically designed for arrays of objects.

Conclusion

Lodash's _.meanBy() method is a valuable tool for calculating the average value of a specific property in an array of objects. It provides a concise and effective solution for statistical computations and data analysis involving complex data structures.

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