---
title: "unicorn/consistent-existence-index-check"
description: "Require `=== -1` and `!== -1` to test the result of `indexOf()` and `findIndex()`"
# Generated by src/codegen/lint-rule-docs.ts. Do not edit below this line.
plugin: "unicorn"
aliases: []
kind: "suggestion"
category: "style"
default: "off"
fixable: "yes"
typeAware: false
deprecated: false
---

`indexOf()`, `lastIndexOf()`, `findIndex()` and `findLastIndex()` return `-1` when they find nothing. `index < 0`, `index >= 0` and `index > -1` all test for that, but they read like range checks. Comparing with `-1` says what you mean: found, or not found.

`--fix` rewrites the comparison.

{/* Generated by src/codegen/lint-rule-docs.ts. Do not edit this section. */}

## Configure

Off by default. To turn it on:

```toml bunfig.toml
[lint.rules]
"unicorn/consistent-existence-index-check" = "error" # or "warn"
```

{/* End of the generated section. */}

## Examples

Reported:

{/* bad {"count": 2} */}
```js
const index = users.findIndex(user => user.id === id);

if (index < 0) {
  throw new Error("No such user");
}

if (index >= 0) {
  users.splice(index, 1);
}
```

Not reported:

{/* good */}
```js
const index = users.findIndex(user => user.id === id);

if (index === -1) {
  throw new Error("No such user");
}

if (index !== -1) {
  users.splice(index, 1);
}
```

The rule only follows a `const` that holds the result of one of these methods. It doesn't check a `let`, or a call that's compared in place:

{/* good */}
```js
let index = users.indexOf(name);

if (index < 0) {
  index = users.push(name) - 1;
}

if (admins.indexOf(name) < 0) {
  admins.push(name);
}
```