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JavaScript indexOf() Method

String Object Reference JavaScript String Object

Example

Search a string for "welcome":

var str="Hello world, welcome to the universe.";
var n=str.indexOf("welcome");

The result of n will be:


Try it yourself »

Definition and Usage

The indexOf() method returns the position of the first occurrence of a specified value in a string.

This method returns -1 if the value to search for never occurs.

Note: The indexOf() method is case sensitive.

Tip: Also look at the lastIndexOf() method.


Browser Support

Internet Explorer Firefox Opera Google Chrome Safari

The indexOf() method is supported in all major browsers.


Syntax

string.indexOf(searchvalue,start)

Parameter Values

Parameter Description
searchvalue Required. The string to search for
start Optional. Default 0. At which postition to start the search

Return Value

Type Description
Number The position where the specified searchvalue occurs for the first time, or -1 if it never occurs

Technical Details

JavaScript Version: 1.0


More Examples

Example

Find the first occurance of the letter "e" in a string:

var str="Hello world, welcome to the universe.";
var n=str.indexOf("e");

The result of n will be:


Try it yourself »

Example

Find the first occurance of the letter "e" in a string, starting the search at position 5:

var str="Hello world, welcome to the universe.";
var n=str.indexOf("e",5);

The result of n will be:


Try it yourself »


String Object Reference JavaScript String Object

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