Create an uninitialized array having the same length and data type as a provided array.
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> Create an uninitialized array having the same length and data type as a provided array.
``bash`
npm install @stdlib/array-empty-like
`javascript`
var emptyLike = require( '@stdlib/array-empty-like' );
#### emptyLike( x\[, dtype] )
Creates an uninitialized array having the same length and [data type][@stdlib/array/dtypes] as a provided array x.
`javascript
var x = [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ];
var arr = emptyLike( x );
// returns [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ];
`
By default, the output array [data type][@stdlib/array/dtypes] is inferred from the provided array x. To return an array having a different [data type][@stdlib/array/dtypes], provide a dtype argument.
`javascript
var x = [ 1, 1 ];
var arr = emptyLike( x, 'int32' );
// returns
`
- In browser environments, the function always returns zero-filled arrays.
- If dtype is 'generic', the function always returns a zero-filled array.>=3.0.0
- In Node.js versions , the underlying memory of returned typed arrays is not initialized. Memory contents are unknown and may contain sensitive data.
`javascript
var dtypes = require( '@stdlib/array-dtypes' );
var zeros = require( '@stdlib/array-zeros' );
var emptyLike = require( '@stdlib/array-empty-like' );
// Create a zero-filled array:
var x = zeros( 4, 'complex128' );
// Get a list of array data types:
var dt = dtypes();
// Generate empty arrays...
var arr;
var i;
for ( i = 0; i < dt.length; i++ ) {
arr = emptyLike( x, dt[ i ] );
console.log( arr );
}
`
*
- [@stdlib/array-empty][@stdlib/array/empty]: create an uninitialized array having a specified length.
- [@stdlib/array-full-like][@stdlib/array/full-like]: create a filled array having the same length and data type as a provided array.
- [@stdlib/array-ones-like][@stdlib/array/ones-like]: create an array filled with ones and having the same length and data type as a provided array.
- [@stdlib/array-zeros-like][@stdlib/array/zeros-like]: create a zero-filled array having the same length and data type as a provided array.
- [@stdlib/ndarray-empty-like][@stdlib/ndarray/empty-like]: create an uninitialized ndarray having the same shape and data type as a provided ndarray.
*
This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.
For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].
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---
See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].
Copyright © 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].
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[stdlib]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib
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[umd]: https://github.com/umdjs/umd
[es-module]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide/Modules
[deno-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/array-empty-like/tree/deno
[deno-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/array-empty-like/blob/deno/README.md
[umd-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/array-empty-like/tree/umd
[umd-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/array-empty-like/blob/umd/README.md
[esm-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/array-empty-like/tree/esm
[esm-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/array-empty-like/blob/esm/README.md
[branches-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/array-empty-like/blob/main/branches.md
[stdlib-license]: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/stdlib-js/array-empty-like/main/LICENSE
[@stdlib/array/dtypes]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/array-dtypes
[@stdlib/array/empty]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/array-empty
[@stdlib/array/full-like]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/array-full-like
[@stdlib/array/ones-like]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/array-ones-like
[@stdlib/array/zeros-like]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/array-zeros-like
[@stdlib/ndarray/empty-like]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/ndarray-empty-like