Lodash _.minBy() Method

Syntax, Parameter and Return Value

Syntax: _.minBy(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 minimum is calculated.

Return Value: 

Returns the element with the minimum value.

Examples 

Finding Object with Minimum Property Value:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var _ = require('lodash');

var users = [

  { 'user': 'fred', 'age': 48 },

  { 'user': 'barney', 'age': 36 },

  { 'user': 'fred', 'age': 40 }

];

var youngestUser = _.minBy(users, (o) => o.age);

console.log(youngestUser); 

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 Output: 

{ 'user': 'barney', 'age': 36 }

Demonstrates finding the user with the lowest age in an array of user objects.

Using Property Name Shorthand:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var products = [
  { name: 'Product 1', price: 100 },
  { name: 'Product 2', price: 200 },
  { name: 'Product 3', price: 150 }
];
var cheapestProduct = _.minBy(products, 'price');
console.log(cheapestProduct);

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Output

{ name: 'Product 1', price: 100 }

An example of using property name shorthand to find the cheapest product.

Minimum Value in Array of Arrays:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var points = [[1, 2], [3, 4], [2, 1]];

var lowestPoint = _.minBy(points, (p) => p[1]);

console.log(lowestPoint); 

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Output: 

[2, 1]

Shows finding the point with the lowest y-value in an array of coordinates.

Custom Iteratee Function:

• JavaScript

JavaScript

var data = [

  { name: 'Item1', dimensions: { width: 10, height: 5 }},

  { name: 'Item2', dimensions: { width: 4, height: 20 }}

];

var smallestItem = _.minBy(data, item => item.dimensions.width * item.dimensions.height);

console.log('Smallest Item:', smallestItem.name); 

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Output: 

'Smallest Item: Item1'

Uses a custom function to determine the item with the smallest area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does _.minBy() differ from _.min()?

_.min() finds the minimum numeric value in a simple array, while _.minBy() is used for finding the minimum value in an array based on a specific criterion or property.

Can _.minBy() handle non-numeric comparisons?

Yes, _.minBy() can be used for non-numeric comparisons, as long as the iteratee function returns a value that can be logically ordered (like strings or dates).

What happens if multiple elements meet the minimum criterion?

If multiple elements are considered 'minimum', _.minBy() returns the first one encountered in the collection.

Conclusion

Lodash's _.minBy() method is a versatile tool for identifying the minimum element in a collection based on a defined criterion. It is particularly valuable when working with arrays of objects and needing to determine the minimum based on a property or a result of a function.

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