Get the Initials from a Name in JavaScript (Exercise)

The challenge

Write initials(fullName) that returns the first letter of each word, in capitals. Names are separated by single spaces.

Example

initials("Mia Grace Rossi")  // "MGR"
initials("omar khan")        // "OK"

Try it

Write your answer below, then press Check my answer. Your code runs right here in your browser, and the tests tell you what works.

Your solution

It prints

What the tests check

initials("Mia Grace Rossi") gives "MGR"
initials("omar khan") gives "OK"
initials("Zoe") gives "Z"

Hints

Stuck? Open one hint at a time. Try again after each one.

Hint 1

Loop over the characters: a letter is a “first letter” if it’s at index 0 or comes right after a space.

Hint 2

Or, after Grade 7, fullName.split(" ") gives you the words.

A solution

There’s always more than one right way. Read it, make sure you understand it, then try writing it yourself without looking.

Show one possible solution

Solution

function initials(fullName) {
  let result = "";
  for (let i = 0; i < fullName.length; i++) {
    if (i === 0 || fullName[i - 1] === " ") {
      result += fullName[i].toUpperCase();
    }
  }
  return result;
}

Learn what you need

This exercise uses what Grade 2: Data Types: What Goes in the Boxes? teaches. Read those notes first if any of it is new.

Get the initials from a name