@stdlib/array/index/README.md

Arrays.

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# ArrayIndex

> Array index constructor.

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<section class="intro">

In JavaScript, only strings and symbols are valid property names. When providing values for property names which are not string or symbols, the values are serialized to strings **prior to** attempting to access property values. For example, the following

```javascript
// Create an array:
var x = [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ];

// Define a list of indices for elements we want to retrieve from `x`:
var y = [ 0, 2 ];

// Attempt to retrieve the desired elements:
var v = x[ y ]; // => desired: [ 1, 3 ]
// returns undefined
```

is equivalent to

```javascript
var x = [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ];
var y = [ 0, 2 ];

var v = x[ y.toString() ];
// returns undefined

// ...which is equivalent to:
v = x[ '0,2' ];
// returns undefined
```

Accordingly, in order to circumvent built-in property access behavior and support non-traditional access patterns, one can leverage [`Proxy`][@stdlib/proxy/ctor] objects which allow one to intercept property access and to perform transformations before attempting to access elements in a target object.

To support the access pattern shown in the example above, one can leverage built-in string serialization behavior to reconstruct the original property value provided prior to serialization. The `ArrayIndex` constructor described below provides one such mechanism.

Specifically, instantiated `ArrayIndex` objects are assigned a unique identifier and stored in a local cache. When provided as property values to `ArrayIndex` consumers, instantiated objects serialize to a string containing their unique identifier. `ArrayIndex` consumers can then parse the serialized string to obtain the unique identifier and subsequently recover the original array from the local cache.

</section>

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<section class="usage">

## Usage

```javascript
var ArrayIndex = require( '@stdlib/array/index' );
```

<a name="main"></a>

#### ArrayIndex( x\[, options] )

Wraps a provided array as an array index object.

```javascript
var x = [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ];

var idx = new ArrayIndex( x );
// returns <ArrayIndex>
```

The constructor accepts the following arguments:

-   **x**: input array.
-   **options**: function options.

The constructor accepts the following options:

-   **persist**: boolean indicating whether to continue persisting an index object after first usage. Default: `false`.

By default, an `ArrayIndex` is invalidated and removed from an internal cache immediately after a consumer resolves the underlying data associated with an `ArrayIndex` instance using the [`ArrayIndex.get()`](#static-method-get) static method. Immediate invalidation and cache removal ensures that references to the underlying array are not the source of memory leaks.

One may, however, want to reuse an `ArrayIndex` instance to avoid additional memory allocation. In order to persist an `ArrayIndex` and prevent automatic cache invalidation, set the `persist` option to `true`.

```javascript
var x = [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ];

var idx = new ArrayIndex( x, {
    'persist': true
});
// returns <ArrayIndex>

// ...

var o = ArrayIndex.get( idx.id );
// returns {...}

// ...

o = ArrayIndex.get( idx.id );
// returns {...}

// ...

// Explicitly free the array index:
ArrayIndex.free( idx.id );
```

In order to **prevent** memory leaks when working with persisted `ArrayIndex` instances, one **must** remember to manually free persisted instances using the [`ArrayIndex.free()`](#static-method-free) method.

* * *

### Properties

<a name="static-prop-name"></a>

#### ArrayIndex.name

String value of the `ArrayIndex` constructor name.

```javascript
var str = ArrayIndex.name;
// returns 'ArrayIndex'
```

<a name="prop-data"></a>

#### ArrayIndex.prototype.data

**Read-only** property returning the underlying array associated with an `ArrayIndex` instance.

```javascript
var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

var idx = new ArrayIndex( new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] ) );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

var v = idx.data;
// returns <Uint8Array>[ 1, 0, 1, 0 ]
```

<a name="prop-dtype"></a>

#### ArrayIndex.prototype.dtype

**Read-only** property returning the data type of the underlying array associated with an `ArrayIndex` instance.

```javascript
var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

var idx = new ArrayIndex( new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] ) );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

var dt = idx.dtype;
// returns 'uint8'
```

<a name="prop-id"></a>

#### ArrayIndex.prototype.id

**Read-only** property returning the unique identifier associated with an `ArrayIndex` instance.

```javascript
var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

var idx = new ArrayIndex( new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] ) );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

var id = idx.id;
// returns <string>
```

The identifier should be used by `ArrayIndex` consumers to resolve the underlying data associated with an `ArrayIndex` instance.

<a name="prop-is-cached"></a>

#### ArrayIndex.prototype.isCached

**Read-only** property returning a boolean indicating whether an `ArrayIndex` instance is actively cached.

```javascript
var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

var idx = new ArrayIndex( new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] ) );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

var out = idx.isCached;
// returns true
```

<a name="prop-type"></a>

#### ArrayIndex.prototype.type

**Read-only** property returning the array index type.

```javascript
var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

var idx = new ArrayIndex( new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] ) );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

var t = idx.type;
// returns 'mask'
```

The following array index types are supported:

-   **mask**: mask array, in which a value of zero indicates to include a respective element and a value of one indicates to exclude a respective element. A mask array is the complement of a boolean array.
-   **bool**: boolean array, in which a value of `true` indicates to include a respective element and a value of `false` indicates to exclude a respective element. A boolean array is the complement of a mask array.
-   **int**: integer array, in which each element is an index indicating the position of an element to include. Elements are **not** required to be unique (i.e., more than element may resolve to the same position).

* * *

### Methods

<a name="static-method-free"></a>

#### ArrayIndex.free( id )

Frees the `ArrayIndex` associated with a provided identifier.

```javascript
var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

var idx = new ArrayIndex( new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] ), {
    'persist': true
});
// returns <ArrayIndex>

// ...

var out = ArrayIndex.free( idx.id );
// returns true
```

Once an `ArrayIndex` is freed, the instance is invalid and can no longer be used. Any subsequent `ArrayIndex` operations (i.e., property and method access) will raise an exception.

<a name="static-method-get"></a>

#### ArrayIndex.get( id )

Returns the array associated with the `ArrayIndex` having a provided identifier.

```javascript
var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

var idx = new ArrayIndex( new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] ), {
    'persist': true
});
// returns <ArrayIndex>

// ...

var o = ArrayIndex.get( idx.id );
// returns {...}

var d = o.data;
// returns <Uint8Array>[ 1, 0, 1, 0 ]

var t = o.type;
// returns 'mask'

var dt = o.dtype;
// returns 'uint8'
```

The returned object has the following properties:

-   **data**: the underlying array associated with the `ArrayIndex` identified by the provided `id`.
-   **type**: the type of array index. One of the following: `'int'`, `'bool'`, or `'mask'`.
-   **dtype**: the data type of the underlying array.

If the `ArrayIndex` associated with a provided identifier was not explicitly persisted, calling this method will cause the `ArrayIndex` to be invalidated and removed from an internal cache. Any subsequent instance operations (i.e., property and method access) will raise an exception.

<a name="method-to-string"></a>

#### ArrayIndex.prototype.toString()

Serializes an `ArrayIndex` as a string.

```javascript
var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

var idx = new ArrayIndex( new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] ) );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

var str = idx.toString();
// e.g., 'ArrayIndex<0>'
```

An `ArrayIndex` is intended to be an opaque object used by objects supporting "fancy" indexing (e.g., [fancy arrays][@stdlib/array/to-fancy]). As such, when serialized as a string, a serialized `ArrayIndex` includes only the unique identifier associated with the respective instance.

<a name="method-to-json"></a>

#### ArrayIndex.prototype.toJSON()

Serializes an `ArrayIndex` as a [JSON][json] object.

```javascript
var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

var idx = new ArrayIndex( new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] ) );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

var o = idx.toJSON();
// returns { 'type': 'ArrayIndex', 'data': { 'type': 'Uint8Array', 'data': [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] } }
```

`JSON.stringify()` implicitly calls this method when stringifying an `ArrayIndex` instance.

</section>

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<!-- Package usage notes. Make sure to keep an empty line after the `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->

* * *

<section class="notes">

## Notes

-   `ArrayIndex` instances have no explicit functionality; however, they are used by ["fancy" arrays][@stdlib/array/to-fancy] and other packages for element retrieval and assignment.

-   Because `ArrayIndex` instances leverage an internal cache implementing the **Singleton pattern**, one **must** be sure to use the same `ArrayIndex` constructor as `ArrayIndex` consumers. If one uses a different `ArrayIndex` constructor, the consumer will **not** be able to resolve the original wrapped array, as the consumer will attempt to resolve an `ArrayIndex` instance in the wrong internal cache.

-   Because non-persisted `ArrayIndex` instances are freed after first use, in order to avoid holding onto memory and to allow garbage collection, one should avoid scenarios in which an `ArrayIndex` is never used. For example,

    ```javascript
    var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

    var data = new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 0, 0 ] );
    var idx = new ArrayIndex( data );

    var o;
    if ( data[ 0 ] === 0 ) {
        // Do something with `idx`...
        o = ArrayIndex.get( idx.id );

        // ...
    }
    ```

    will leak memory as `idx` is only consumed within an `if` block which never evaluates. In such scenarios, one should either refactor to avoid inadvertently holding onto memory or explicitly free the `ArrayIndex`. 

    ```javascript
    var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );

    var data = new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 0, 0 ] );
    var idx = new ArrayIndex( data );

    var o;
    if ( data[ 0 ] === 0 ) {
        // Do something with `idx`...
        o = ArrayIndex.get( idx.id );

        // ...
    } else {
        ArrayIndex.free( idx.id );
    }
    ```

</section>

<!-- /.notes -->

<!-- Package usage examples. -->

* * *

<section class="examples">

## Examples

<!-- eslint no-undef: "error" -->

```javascript
var Uint8Array = require( '@stdlib/array/uint8' );
var Int32Array = require( '@stdlib/array/int32' );
var BooleanArray = require( '@stdlib/array/bool' );
var ArrayIndex = require( '@stdlib/array/index' );

var x = new Uint8Array( [ 1, 0, 1, 0 ] );
var i = new ArrayIndex( x );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

var o = ArrayIndex.get( i.id );
// returns {...}

console.log( 'Type: %s. Data type: %s.', o.type, o.dtype );

x = [ true, false, true, false ];
i = new ArrayIndex( x );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

o = ArrayIndex.get( i.id );
// returns {...}

console.log( 'Type: %s. Data type: %s.', o.type, o.dtype );

x = new BooleanArray( [ true, false, true, false ] );
i = new ArrayIndex( x );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

o = ArrayIndex.get( i.id );
// returns {...}

console.log( 'Type: %s. Data type: %s.', o.type, o.dtype );

x = new Int32Array( [ 1, 3, 4, 7 ] );
i = new ArrayIndex( x );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

o = ArrayIndex.get( i.id );
// returns {...}

console.log( 'Type: %s. Data type: %s.', o.type, o.dtype );

x = [ 1, 3, 4, 7 ];
i = new ArrayIndex( x );
// returns <ArrayIndex>

o = ArrayIndex.get( i.id );
// returns {...}

console.log( 'Type: %s. Data type: %s.', o.type, o.dtype );
```

</section>

<!-- /.examples -->

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<section class="references">

</section>

<!-- /.references -->

<!-- Section for related `stdlib` packages. Do not manually edit this section, as it is automatically populated. -->

<section class="related">

* * *

## See Also

-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/array/to-fancy`][@stdlib/array/to-fancy]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">convert an array to an object supporting fancy indexing.</span>

</section>

<!-- /.related -->

<!-- Section for all links. Make sure to keep an empty line after the `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->

<section class="links">

[json]: http://www.json.org/

[@stdlib/array/to-fancy]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/array/tree/main/to-fancy

[@stdlib/proxy/ctor]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/proxy-ctor

</section>

<!-- /.links -->