Convert a dot notated object path to a square bracket notated object path

convert_dot_to_bracket.js

/**
 * Takes a dot notated object string ("root.child1.child2.child3") and converts it to square bracket notation ("root[child1][child2][child3]").
 * 
 * @param dot_string {string}
 *      A string in dot notation.
 *          * Must be of a non-zero length
 *          * Must include at least one "."
 *          * Must have more than one token
 *
 * @param include_single_quotes {boolean}
 *      A flag to indicate if each attribute selector between square brackets should be single-quoted
 *          * Must be a boolean
 *          * Defaults to false
 */
var convert_dot_to_bracket = function(dot_string, include_single_quotes)
{
    // dot_string is defined, a String, not empty and contains at least one "."
    if (typeof dot_string !== "undefined" && dot_string.constructor.name == "String" && dot_string.length > 0 && dot_string.indexOf(".") >= 0)
    {
        var token_list = dot_string.split(".");
        
        token_list = token_list.filter(function(thisArg){ return thisArg !== "" }); // Remove all empty strings from the array
        
        // There is at least one root and one attribute token
        if (token_list.length > 1)
        {
            var root = token_list.splice(0,1); // pop the first element into <root>
            var single_quote_place_holder = ""; // Create an empty string. It will only become useful if <include_single_quotes> is truthy
            var out = "" + root; // Create the output string and start it with <root>
            
            // If <include_single_quotes> is truthy set it to "'" otherwise leave it ""
            if (include_single_quotes)
                single_quote_place_holder = "'";
            
            token_list.forEach(function(currentValue, index, array)
            {
                out += "[" + single_quote_place_holder + currentValue + single_quote_place_holder + "]"; // Append the formatted token to <out>
            });
            
            return out;
        }
        else // There is only one token
        {
            return "";
        }
    }
    else // dot_string is invalid
    {
        return "";
    }
};