Workshop › Text detective › Step 4 of 13

Split into words

What we are doing

To count words we cut the text at every space. split(' ') gives an array of pieces; its length is the word count.

```js
const words = box.value.split(' ')
result.textContent = 'Characters: ' + box.value.length + '\nWords: ' + words.length
```

What it means

• split(' ') returns an array: 'the cat sat' becomes ['the', 'cat', 'sat'].
• '\n' is a line break, so the word count goes on its own line.

Your turn

Inside update, add the words line and extend the text as shown.

Skills: Arrays and objects

← Update as you type The extra-space trap →

All steps

1. Read the text
2. Count the characters
3. Update as you type
4. Split into words
5. The extra-space trap
6. An empty box has no words
7. Count each word
8. Drop the punctuation
9. The most common word
10. Shift a letter
11. Encode a whole text
12. The secret line
13. Build it yourself: crack the code