String strip() for JavaScript?

Gumbo already noted this in a comment, but this bears repeating as an answer: the trim() method was added in JavaScript 1.8.1 and is supported by all modern browsers (Firefox 3.5+, IE 9, Chrome 10, Safari 5.x), although IE 8 and older do not support it. Usage is simple:

 "  foo\n\t  ".trim() => "foo"

See also:

• https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String/Trim
• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/ff679971%28v=vs.94%29.aspx

Use this:

if(typeof(String.prototype.trim) === "undefined")
{
    String.prototype.trim = function() 
    {
        return String(this).replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g, '');
    };
}

The trim function will now be available as a first-class function on your strings. For example:

" dog".trim() === "dog" //true

EDIT: Took J-P's suggestion to combine the regex patterns into one. Also added the global modifier per Christoph's suggestion.

Took Matthew Crumley's idea about sniffing on the trim function prior to recreating it. This is done in case the version of JavaScript used on the client is more recent and therefore has its own, native trim function.

For jquery users, how about $.trim(s)