Remove a item in a nested JSON array using Id/Key

August 18, 2023

I have the following json setup which imitates a folder structure:

    {
    "boxId": "45345344535",
    "modifiedDate": "2023-08-18T11:07:43-04:00",
    "name": "FolderTest",
    "size": 7751630,
    "files": [
        {
            "boxId": "2343214243",
            "modifiedDate": null,
            "name": "Original Preprint Submission.pdf",
            "size": null
        },
        {
            "boxId": "43534534543534",
            "modifiedDate": null,
            "name": "Original Supporting docs.msg",
            "size": null
        }
    ],
    "folders": [
        {
            "boxId": "34534534534535",
            "modifiedDate": "2023-08-18T11:07:02-04:00",
            "name": "Round 1",
            "size": 4092614,
            "files": [
                {
                    "boxId": "45325252435235",
                    "modifiedDate": null,
                    "name": "Round 1 Preprint.pdf",
                    "size": null
                },
                {
                    "boxId": "45436567546754",
                    "modifiedDate": null,
                    "name": "Round 1 response.pdf",
                    "size": null
                },
                {
                    "boxId": "324243245435345",
                    "modifiedDate": null,
                    "name": "Round 1 supporting doc 1.pdf",
                    "size": null
                },
                {
                    "boxId": "3421342142142134",
                    "modifiedDate": null,
                    "name": "Round 1 supporting doc 2.docx",
                    "size": null
                }
            ],
            "folders": []
        }
    ]
}

So I am trying to create a recursive function that takes the id and also the original array then finds the match then removes that file node. I found a similar post here:

Recursively remove object from nested array

But I am struggling to adapt it to my json structure .

>Solution :

Remove IN-PLACE:

const removeNode = (parent, id) => {
  let idx = parent.files.findIndex(({boxId}) => id === boxId);
  if(idx >= 0){
    parent.files.splice(idx, 1);
    return true;
  }
  for(let i = 0; i < parent.folders.length; i++){
    if(parent.folders[i].boxId === id){
      parent.folders.splice(i, 1);
      return true;
    }
    if(removeNode(parent.folders[i], id)){
      return true;
    }
  }
  return false;
};

console.log('removing 3421342142142134:', removeNode(root, '3421342142142134'));
console.log(root);

<script>
const root = {
 
    "boxId": "45345344535",
    "modifiedDate": "2023-08-18T11:07:43-04:00",
    "name": "FolderTest",
    "size": 7751630,
    "files": [
        {
            "boxId": "2343214243",
            "modifiedDate": null,
            "name": "Original Preprint Submission.pdf",
            "size": null
        },
        {
            "boxId": "43534534543534",
            "modifiedDate": null,
            "name": "Original Supporting docs.msg",
            "size": null
        }
    ],
    "folders": [
        {
            "boxId": "34534534534535",
            "modifiedDate": "2023-08-18T11:07:02-04:00",
            "name": "Round 1",
            "size": 4092614,
            "files": [
                {
                    "boxId": "45325252435235",
                    "modifiedDate": null,
                    "name": "Round 1 Preprint.pdf",
                    "size": null
                },
                {
                    "boxId": "45436567546754",
                    "modifiedDate": null,
                    "name": "Round 1 response.pdf",
                    "size": null
                },
                {
                    "boxId": "324243245435345",
                    "modifiedDate": null,
                    "name": "Round 1 supporting doc 1.pdf",
                    "size": null
                },
                {
                    "boxId": "3421342142142134",
                    "modifiedDate": null,
                    "name": "Round 1 supporting doc 2.docx",
                    "size": null
                }
            ],
            "folders": []
        }
    ]
}
</script>