How to group JSON data in JavaScript

In this article, you will learn of how to group JSON data in JavaScript. One of the simple task that developers often encounter is grouping JSON data.

Before we move on into the grouping JSON data, let’s understand first the meaning of JSON.

What is JSON?

JSON, is short for JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight data exchange format. It is generally used to relay data between a server and a web application, as well as to store and organize data within an application.

Also, JSON data contains key-value pairs and supports different data types, including strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, and nested objects.

Methods to Group JSON Data using JavaScript

Here are the following methods for grouping the JSON data using JavaScript.

Method 1: Sorting JSON Data

To completely group JSON data, it is usually useful to sort it based on a specific key.

JavaScript provides the sort() method, which enables you to sort an array of objects based on a given property.

Let’s see an example:

const person = [
  
  { name: 'Glenn', age: 27, city: 'Chicago' },
  { name: 'Caren', age: 29, city: 'San Diego' },
  { name: 'Eliver', age: 23, city: 'Seattle' },
  { name: 'jude', age: 26, city: 'Boston' },
];

// Sort the JSON data by city
person.sort((x, y) => (x.city > y.city ? 1 : -1));

console.log(person);

Output:

Sorting JSON Data in How to group JSON data in JavaScript

In the above code example, it sorts the person array based on the city property in ascending order.

Sorting the data provides a support for grouping it proficiently.

Method 2: Grouping JSON Data Using a Dictionary

To group JSON data, we can use a dictionary-like structure in JavaScript. One method to done this is by using JavaScript objects.

For example:

const person = [
  { name: 'Glenn', age: 27, city: 'Chicago' },
  { name: 'Caren', age: 29, city: 'San Diego' },
  { name: 'Eliver', age: 23, city: 'Seattle' },
  { name: 'jude', age: 26, city: 'Boston' },
];

const groupedDataExample = {};

person.forEach((persons) => {
  if (!groupedDataExample[persons.city]) {
    groupedDataExample[persons.city] = [];
  }
  
  groupedDataExample[persons.city].push(persons);
});

console.log(groupedDataExample);

Output:

In the above code example, we iterate over the person array and check if the present persons city key already exists as a key in the groupedDataExample object.

If not, we initialize it as an empty array. Then, we push the present person into the corresponding city’s array.

This process completely groups the JSON data based on the city.

Method 3: Grouping JSON Data Using Array Reduce

Another method for grouping JSON data is by using the reduce() method provided by JavaScript arrays.

The reduce() method enables us to increase a result based on the elements of an array.

Let’s look at an example code that uses reduce() method:

const person = [
  { name: 'Glenn', age: 27, city: 'Chicago' },
  { name: 'Caren', age: 29, city: 'San Diego' },
  { name: 'Eliver', age: 23, city: 'Seattle' },
  { name: 'jude', age: 26, city: 'Boston' },
];

const groupedDataExample = person.reduce((personalAccount, persons) => {
  if (!personalAccount[persons.city]) {
    personalAccount[persons.city] = [];
  }
  
  personalAccount[persons.city].push(persons);
  return personalAccount;
}, {});

console.log(groupedDataExample);

Using reduce() method on person array, we group persons by city key. For each person, we add it to the persons array in the compiler (personalAccount). Finally, it will result: JSON data grouped by city.

FAQs

Can I group JSON data based on multiple keys?

Yes, you can group JSON data based on multiple keys. To done this, you can change the grouping logic to consider multiple properties when grouping the data.

What if the JSON data contains nested objects?

If the JSON data consists of nested objects, you can still group it using the same methods mentioned in this article

Is it possible to group JSON data based on a custom grouping logic?

Absolutely! The grouping logic illustrated in this article serves as a starting point. It depends on your specific requirements, you can customize the grouping logic to suit your needs.

Can I group JSON data asynchronously?

Yes, JavaScript supports asynchronous operations, and you can apply asynchronous methods to group JSON data.

Conclusion

In conclusion, grouping JSON data in JavaScript is a powerful methods that enables you to organize and manipulate data effectively.

By sorting the data and applying JavaScript objects or array reduction, you can effectively group JSON data based on different conducts.

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is JavaScript still worth learning in 2026?
Yes. JavaScript runs on 98% of websites for the front-end, dominates the back-end via Node.js, powers mobile apps through React Native, builds desktop tools through Electron, and is the scripting layer for most AI tooling (LangChain.js, OpenAI SDK, Vercel AI). Whether you target web, mobile, AI, or full-stack capstones, JavaScript is the broadest single language you can learn.
What is the difference between var, let, and const?
var is function-scoped, hoisted to the top of its scope, and can be redeclared, which leads to bugs in modern code. let is block-scoped (only visible inside the nearest {}) and can be reassigned. const is block-scoped and cannot be reassigned, although object contents can still mutate. Default to const for everything, switch to let only when you actually need to reassign, and avoid var in any code written after 2017.
Which JavaScript version should I target in 2026?
Target ES2020 (ES11) as the safe baseline because every modern browser and Node.js 14+ supports it fully. ES2022 adds useful features like top-level await, private class fields with the # prefix, and the .at() array method. If you are writing for older browsers (IE11 or older Android WebViews), transpile down with Babel or use a build tool like Vite, esbuild, or webpack.
What is the best free editor for JavaScript?
Visual Studio Code is the industry standard, free, with built-in IntelliSense, debugger, terminal, Git, and a huge extension marketplace (ESLint, Prettier, GitHub Copilot, Tailwind). Install the JavaScript and TypeScript Nightly extension for the latest language features. JetBrains WebStorm is more powerful and free for students with a verified .edu email. For quick scratchpad work, the Chrome DevTools Sources panel includes a workspace and breakpoint debugger.
How do I run JavaScript locally vs in the browser?
In the browser: open DevTools with F12 (or right-click then Inspect), go to the Console tab, type or paste your code, press Enter. For HTML pages, add a script tag pointing to your .js file. Locally with Node.js: download Node from nodejs.org (LTS version), then run node script.js in your terminal from the file folder. Use the same Node setup for backend capstones, API integrations, and scripts that do not need a browser.
What can I build with JavaScript for my BSIT capstone?
Common BSIT capstones in JavaScript: full-stack web apps using React or Vue on the front-end with Node.js and Express on the back-end (MongoDB or MySQL for the database), real-time chat or notification systems using Socket.io, single-page dashboards with Chart.js or D3.js, cross-platform mobile apps with React Native, AI-powered chatbots using OpenAI SDK and LangChain.js, and Chrome extensions for productivity tools. Add Tailwind CSS for the UI and Vercel or Netlify for free deployment.

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