# bifurcateBy > Split values into two groups according to a predicate function.
## Usage ```javascript var bifurcateBy = require( '@stdlib/utils/bifurcate-by' ); ``` #### bifurcateBy( collection, \[options,] predicate ) Splits values into two groups according to a `predicate` function, which specifies which group an element in the input `collection` belongs to. If a `predicate` function returns a truthy value, a collection element belongs to the first group; otherwise, a collection element belongs to the second group. ```javascript function predicate( v ) { return v[ 0 ] === 'b'; } var arr = [ 'beep', 'boop', 'foo', 'bar' ]; var out = bifurcateBy( arr, predicate ); // returns [ [ 'beep', 'boop', 'bar' ], [ 'foo' ] ] ``` A `predicate` function is provided two arguments: - `value`: collection element - `index`: collection index ```javascript function predicate( v, i ) { console.log( '%d: %s', i, v ); return v[ 0 ] === 'b'; } var arr = [ 'beep', 'boop', 'foo', 'bar' ]; var out = bifurcateBy( arr, predicate ); // returns [ [ 'beep', 'boop', 'bar' ], [ 'foo' ] ] ``` The function accepts the following `options`: - `returns`: specifies the output format. If the option equals `'values'`, the function outputs element values. If the option equals `'indices'`, the function outputs element indices. If the option equals `'*'`, the function outputs both element indices and values. Default: `'values'`. - `thisArg`: execution context. By default, the function returns element values. To return element indices, set the `returns` option to `'indices'`. ```javascript function predicate( v ) { return v[ 0 ] === 'b'; } var arr = [ 'beep', 'boop', 'foo', 'bar' ]; var opts = { 'returns': 'indices' }; var out = bifurcateBy( arr, opts, predicate ); // returns [ [ 0, 1, 3 ], [ 2 ] ] ``` To return index-element pairs, set the `returns` option to `'*'`. ```javascript function predicate( v ) { return v[ 0 ] === 'b'; } var arr = [ 'beep', 'boop', 'foo', 'bar' ]; var opts = { 'returns': '*' }; var out = bifurcateBy( arr, opts, predicate ); // returns [ [ [ 0, 'beep' ], [ 1, 'boop' ], [ 3, 'bar' ] ], [ [ 2, 'foo' ] ] ] ``` To set the `predicate` execution context, provide a `thisArg`. ```javascript function predicate( v ) { this.count += 1; return v[ 0 ] === 'b'; } var context = { 'count': 0 }; var opts = { 'thisArg': context }; var arr = [ 'beep', 'boop', 'foo', 'bar' ]; var out = bifurcateBy( arr, opts, predicate ); // returns [ [ 'beep', 'boop', 'bar' ], [ 'foo' ] ] console.log( context.count ); // => 4 ```
## Notes - A `collection` may be either an [`Array`][mdn-array], [`Typed Array`][mdn-typed-array], or an array-like [`Object`][mdn-object] (excluding `strings` and `functions`).
## Examples ```javascript var randu = require( '@stdlib/random/base/randu' ); var floor = require( '@stdlib/math/base/special/floor' ); var bifurcateBy = require( '@stdlib/utils/bifurcate-by' ); var vals; var arr; var out; var i; var j; vals = [ 'beep', 'boop', 'foo', 'bar', 'woot', 'woot' ]; // Generate a random collection... arr = new Array( 100 ); for ( i = 0; i < arr.length; i++ ) { j = floor( randu()*vals.length ); arr[ i ] = vals[ j ]; } function predicate( v ) { return v[ 0 ] === 'b'; } // Compute the groups: out = bifurcateBy( arr, predicate ); console.log( out ); ```