How to convert an array to a string in JavaScript
Łukasz Holeczek
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Converting arrays to strings is essential for data serialization, creating display text, generating CSV content, and implementing features like tag lists or breadcrumb navigation in JavaScript applications.
With over 25 years of experience in software development and as the creator of CoreUI, I’ve implemented array-to-string conversion in components like navigation breadcrumbs, tag displays, and data export features where arrays need to be presented as readable text.
From my extensive expertise, the most flexible and widely used solution is the join() method, which allows custom separators for different formatting needs.
This approach is versatile, efficient, and provides complete control over how array elements are combined into strings.
Use the join() method to convert an array into a string with a specified separator.
const fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'orange']
const text = fruits.join(', ')
// Result: 'apple, banana, orange'
The join() method combines all array elements into a single string, using the provided separator between each element. In this example, fruits.join(', ') creates a comma-separated string ‘apple, banana, orange’. You can use any separator: join(' ') for spaces, join('-') for dashes, or join('') for no separator. If no separator is provided, join() defaults to using commas. The method works with any array content and automatically converts non-string elements to strings during the process.
Best Practice Note:
This is the same approach we use in CoreUI components for creating breadcrumb paths, tag lists, and formatted data displays throughout our component ecosystem.
For arrays containing objects, elements are converted using their toString() method, which may not give desired results. Consider mapping first: array.map(item => item.name).join(', '). The join() method is universally supported and provides the most control over array-to-string formatting.
