Why can't I call function but I can print it in console? javascript

Question

I have the following function:

      var groceries = ["toothpaste", ["plums", "peaches", "pineapples"], ["carrots", "corn", "green beans"], "orange juice", ["chocolate", "ice cream"], "paper towels", "fish"];
      console.log("groceries", groceries);

      function removeItems(arr, toRemove) {
        function createKey(item) {
          return Array.isArray(item) ? item.join('-') : item;
        }

        var removeDict = toRemove.reduce(function(d, item) {
          var key = createKey(item);
          d[key] = true;

          return d;
        }, {});

        console.log("removeDict", removeDict);

        return arr.filter(function(item) {
          var key = createKey(item);

          return !removeDict[key];
        });
      }

      var result = removeItems(groceries, ["fish", "orange juice", ["chocolate", "ice cream"]]);

      console.log("result", result);

(This comes from this previous question I asked): function to remove single items or arrays from within an array - javascript

If I create a variable at the end that calls the function, it prints in the console correctly.

However, if I try to call the function directly, like this:

removeItems(groceries, ["fish", "orange juice", ["chocolate", "ice cream"]]);

console.log("groceries", groceries);

The items do not get removed. Why can't I call the function directly? Am I missing something?

because the function returns a new array, which you are discarding — Jaromanda X
– Jaromanda X, Commented Aug 30, 2017 at 6:30

Steve Holgado · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-30 07:03:20Z

1

The array filter method returns a new filtered array.

Therefore, your original array is not mutated.

If you store the result in a variable, you can then log that instead:

var newArr = removeItems(groceries, ["fish", "orange juice", ["chocolate", "ice cream"]]);

console.log("groceries", newArr)

answered Aug 30, 2017 at 7:03

Steve Holgado

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2 Comments

sprucegoose Over a year ago

Got it. Thank you!

Steve Holgado Over a year ago

No problem. Glad this helped you out.

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