---
title: Truncate a String
---
 Remember to use <a>**`Read-Search-Ask`**</a> if you get stuck. Try to pair program  and write your own code 
###  Problem Explanation:
We need to reduce the length of the string or **truncate** it if it is longer than the given maximum length specified and add `...` to the end. If it is not that long then we keep it as is.
#### Relevant Links
* <a href='https://github.com/FreeCodeCamp/FreeCodeCamp/wiki/JS-String-Prototype-Slice' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>String.prototype.slice()</a>
##  Hint: 1
Strings are immutable in JavaScript so we will need a new variable to store the truncated string.
> _try to solve the problem now_
##  Hint: 2
You will need to use the slice() method and specify where to start and where to stop.
> _try to solve the problem now_
## Spoiler Alert!
**Solution ahead!**
##  Basic Code Solution:
function truncateString(str, num) {
// Clear out that junk in your trunk
if(str.length > num) {
return str.slice(0,num)+"...";
} else {
return str;
}
}
 <a href='https://repl.it/CLjU/55' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Run Code</a>
### Code Explanation:
* We start off with a simple `if` statement to determine one of two outcomes...
* If our string length is greater than the `num` we want to truncate it, we return a slice of our string starting at character 0, and ending at `num`. We then append our `'...'` to the end of the string.
* However, if above situation is not true, it means our string length is less than our truncation `num`. Therefore, we can just return the string.
##  Advanced Code Solution:
function truncateString(str, num) {
return (str.length > num)?(str.slice(0,num)+"..."):str;
}
 <a href='https://repl.it/CLjU/54' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Run Code</a>
### Code Explanation:
* This solution is very similar to basic solution. To determine the new string, we use a ternary operator. In our ternary operation, if `str.length` is larger than `num`, we return a new string which is slice of our string starting at character 0, and ending at `num` and the `'...'` is appended to the end of our new string. If `str.length` is less than or equal to `num`, we return the string without any truncation.
* **NOTE** In order to understand the above code, you need to understand how a Ternary Operator works. The Ternary Operator is frequently used as a shortcut for the `if` statement and follows this format: `condition ? expr1 : expr2`. If the `condition` evaluates to true, the operator returns the value of `expr1`. Otherwise, it returns the value of `expr2`.
#### Relevant Links
* <a href='https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/Conditional_Operator' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Conditional (ternary) Operator</a>
* <a href='https://github.com/FreeCodeCamp/FreeCodeCamp/wiki/JS-String-Prototype-Slice' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>String.prototype.slice()</a>
##  NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTIONS:
*  **DO NOT** add solutions that are similar to any existing solutions. If you think it is **_similar but better_**, then try to merge (or replace) the existing similar solution.
* Add an explanation of your solution.
* Categorize the solution in one of the following categories — **Basic**, **Intermediate** and **Advanced**. 