javascript - Remove all elements contained in another array

Question

I am looking for an efficient way to remove all elements from a javascript array if they are present in another array.

// If I have this array:
var myArray = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g'];

// and this one:
var toRemove = ['b', 'c', 'g'];

I want to operate on myArray to leave it in this state: ['a', 'd', 'e', 'f']

With jQuery, I'm using grep() and inArray(), which works well:

myArray = $.grep(myArray, function(value) {
    return $.inArray(value, toRemove) < 0;
});

Is there a pure javascript way to do this without looping and splicing?

Answer 1

Use the Array.filter() method:

myArray = myArray.filter( function( el ) {
  return toRemove.indexOf( el ) < 0;
} );

---

Small improvement, as browser support for Array.includes() has increased:

myArray = myArray.filter( function( el ) {
  return !toRemove.includes( el );
} );

---

Next adaptation using arrow functions:

myArray = myArray.filter( ( el ) => !toRemove.includes( el ) );