A simple way to decide between these methods is to think about the result you want. Use map() when every item needs to be transformed into something else while keeping the same number of elements. Use filter() when you only want items that meet a specific condition. Use reduce() when you need to combine the entire array into a single value, such as a total, an object, or even another array.

One tip that helped me understand the difference was focusing on the output rather than the loop itself. Once you know whether you need a transformed array, a filtered array, or one final value, choosing the right method becomes much more straightforward.