Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Why This Function is Used
3.
Syntax, Parameter, and Return Value
3.1.
Syntax: 
3.2.
Parameters:
3.3.
Return Value: 
4.
Examples 
4.1.
Summing an Array of Numbers:
4.2.
JavaScript
4.3.
Concatenating String Elements:
4.4.
JavaScript
4.5.
Reducing to an Object:
4.6.
JavaScript
4.7.
Complex Reduction with Nested Structures:
4.8.
JavaScript
5.
Frequently Asked Questions 
5.1.
How does _.reduce() differ from native JavaScript Array.reduce()?
5.2.
What happens if the accumulator is not provided in _.reduce()?
5.3.
Is _.reduce() efficient for large collections?
6.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024
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Lodash _.reduce() Method

Author Riya Singh
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Introduction

Aggregating or accumulating values from a collection is a staple in data manipulation, and Lodash offers a robust solution with its _.reduce() method. This function iteratively applies a function across the elements of a collection, accumulating the results into a single value. 

Lodash _.reduce() Method

This article will delve into _.reduce(), discussing its syntax, usage, and practical applications, complemented by illustrative examples and FAQs.

Why This Function is Used

The _.reduce() function is used for transforming a collection into a single accumulated value. This method is particularly useful in scenarios like summing up values, concatenating strings, or merging objects. It's a cornerstone in functional programming, providing a flexible approach to iterating over a collection and building up a result based on each element.

Syntax, Parameter, and Return Value

Syntax: 

_.reduce(collection, [iteratee=_.identity], [accumulator])

Parameters:

  • collection (Array|Object): The collection to iterate over.
     
  • [iteratee=_.identity] (Function): The function invoked per iteration.
     
  • [accumulator]: The initial value to start accumulation.

Return Value: 

Returns the accumulated value.

Examples 

Summing an Array of Numbers:

  • JavaScript

JavaScript

var _ = require('lodash');

var numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

var sum = _.reduce(numbers, (sum, n) => sum + n, 0);

console.log(sum);
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Output: 

15


Demonstrates adding up the numbers in an array.

Concatenating String Elements:

  • JavaScript

JavaScript

var strings = ['hello', 'world', 'lodash'];

var concatenated = _.reduce(strings, (result, str) => result + ' ' + str, '');

console.log(concatenated);
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Output:

'hello world lodash'


Shows concatenation of strings in an array.

Reducing to an Object:

  • JavaScript

JavaScript

var keyValuePairs = [['a', 1], ['b', 2], ['c', 3]];

var object = _.reduce(keyValuePairs, (result, [key, value]) => {

 result[key] = value;

 return result;

}, {});

console.log(object);
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Output: 

{ 'a': 1, 'b': 2, 'c': 3 }


An example of transforming an array of pairs into an object.

Complex Reduction with Nested Structures:

  • JavaScript

JavaScript

var collections = [{ 'count': 5 }, { 'count': 10 }, { 'count': 15 }];

var totalCount = _.reduce(collections, (sum, obj) => sum + obj.count, 0);

console.log(totalCount);
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Output: 

30


Demonstrates summing values from a collection of objects.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How does _.reduce() differ from native JavaScript Array.reduce()?

Lodash's _.reduce() works with arrays, objects, and even strings, providing more flexibility than the native Array.reduce(), which is limited to arrays.

What happens if the accumulator is not provided in _.reduce()?

If an accumulator is not provided, _.reduce() uses the first element of the collection as the initial accumulator and starts iteration from the second element.

Is _.reduce() efficient for large collections?

_.reduce() is efficient for most collections, but its performance depends on the complexity of the iteratee function and the size of the collection.

Conclusion

Lodash's _.reduce() method is a powerful tool for accumulating values from a collection. It provides a streamlined and expressive way to iterate over a collection and combine its elements into a single result, making it indispensable for various data transformation tasks.

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