CFLib.org – Common Function Library Project

Description:
This function compares 2 one-dimensional arrays (smallerArray & biggerArray) and returns an array with the values found in biggerArray but not in smallerArray.

Return Values:
Returns an array.

Example:

<cfscript>
aSmaller = arrayNew(1);
aSmaller[1] = 'a';
aSmaller[2] = 'b';
aBigger = arrayNew(1); 
aBigger[1] = 'a';
aBigger[2] = 'c';
aBigger[3] = 'b';
aBigger[4] = 'd';
</cfscript>

Smaller Array:
<cfdump var="#aSmaller#"><br />
Bigger Array:
<cfdump var="#aBigger#"><br />
Difference between the two:
<cfset aDifferences = arrayDiff(aSmaller,aBigger)>
<Ccfdump var="#aDifferences#">

Parameters:

Full UDF Source:

/**
 * Compares two arrays and returns the difference between the two.
 * v1.0 by Greg Nettles
 * v2.0 by Adam Cameron under guidance from Jeff Coughlin - replaced unnecessary/ineffcient logic
 * 
 * @param smallerArray      First array. (Required)
 * @param biggerArray      Second array. (Required)
 * @return Returns an array. 
 * @author Greg Nettles (gregnettles@gmail.com) 
 * @version 2.0, April 5, 2013 
 */
function arrayDiff(smallerArray, biggerArray) {
    biggerArray.removeAll(smallerArray);
    return biggerArray;
}