Recipe 6.7 Converting an Array to a String

6.7.1 Problem

You want to convert an array to a string.

6.7.2 Solution

Use the join( ) method.

6.7.3 Discussion

ActionScript provides you with a built-in way to quickly convert arrays to strings (assuming, of course, that the array elements themselves are either strings or another datatype that ActionScript can automatically cast to a string) using the join( ) method. You should provide the join( ) method with a parameter that tells Flash which delimiter to use to join the elements:

myArray = ["a", "b", "c"]; trace(myArray.join("|"));   // Displays: a|b|c

If you don't provide a delimiter, Flash uses a comma by default:

myArray = ["a", "b", "c"]; trace(myArray.join(  ));     // Displays: a,b,c

The toString( ) method does the same thing as calling the join( ) method either with no parameters or with the comma as the parameter. And, in fact, if you try to use an array in a situation in which a string is required, Flash will automatically call the toString( ) method:

myArray = ["a", "b", "c"]; trace(myArray);  // Displays: a,b,c

6.7.4 See Also

Recipe 6.6