Map and split
<html> <head> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-1.3.2.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function(){ var strings = ['1','2','3','4','S','6']; var values = $.map(strings,function(value){ var result = new Number(value); return isNaN(result) ? null : result; }); alert(values); var values = ['this','that','other thing']; $.map(values,function(value){ return value.split(''); }) alert(values); }); </script> </head> <body> <body> <p id="followMe">Follow me!</p> </body> </html>