[javascript] Is it possible to add dynamically named properties to JavaScript object?

In JavaScript, I've created an object like so:

var data = {
    'PropertyA': 1,
    'PropertyB': 2,
    'PropertyC': 3
};

Is it possible to add further properties to this object after its initial creation if the properties name is not determined until run time? i.e.

var propName = 'Property' + someUserInput
//imagine someUserInput was 'Z', how can I now add a 'PropertyZ' property to 
//my object?

ES6 for the win!

const b = 'b';
const c = 'c';

const data = {
    a: true,
    [b]: true, // dynamic property
    [`interpolated-${c}`]: true, // dynamic property + interpolation
    [`${b}-${c}`]: true
}

If you log data you get this:

{
  a: true,
  b: true,
  interpolated-c: true,
  b-c: true
}

This makes use of the new Computed Property syntax and Template Literals.

You can add properties dynamically using some of the options below:

In you example:

var data = {
    'PropertyA': 1,
    'PropertyB': 2,
    'PropertyC': 3
};

You can define a property with a dynamic value in the next two ways:

data.key = value;

or

data['key'] = value;

Even more..if your key is also dynamic you can define using the Object class with:

Object.defineProperty(data, key, withValue(value));

where data is your object, key is the variable to store the key name and value is the variable to store the value.

I hope this helps!

Here's how I solved the problem.

var obj = {

};
var field = "someouter.someinner.someValue";
var value = 123;

function _addField( obj, field, value )
{
    // split the field into tokens
    var tokens = field.split( '.' );

    // if there's more than one token, this field is an object
    if( tokens.length > 1 )
    {
        var subObj = tokens[0];

        // define the object
        if( obj[ subObj ] !== undefined ) obj[ subObj ] = {};

        // call addfield again on the embedded object
        var firstDot = field.indexOf( '.' );
        _addField( obj[ subObj ], field.substr( firstDot + 1 ), value );

    }
    else
    {
        // no embedded objects, just field assignment
        obj[ field ] = value;
    }
}

_addField( obj, field, value );
_addField(obj, 'simpleString', 'string');

console.log( JSON.stringify( obj, null, 2 ) );

Generates the following object:

{
  "someouter": {
    "someinner": {
      "someValue": 123
    }
  },
  "simpleString": "string"
}

in addition to all the previous answers, and in case you're wondering how we're going to write dynamic property names in the Future using Computed Property Names ( ECMAScript 6 ), here's how:

var person = "John Doe";
var personId = "person_" + new Date().getTime();
var personIndex = {
    [ personId ]: person
//  ^ computed property name
};

personIndex[ personId ]; // "John Doe"

reference: Understanding ECMAScript 6 - Nickolas Zakas

A nice way to access from dynamic string names that contain objects (for example object.subobject.property)

function ReadValue(varname)
{
    var v=varname.split(".");
    var o=window;
    if(!v.length)
        return undefined;
    for(var i=0;i<v.length-1;i++)
        o=o[v[i]];
    return o[v[v.length-1]];
}

function AssignValue(varname,value)
{
    var v=varname.split(".");
    var o=window;
    if(!v.length)
        return;
    for(var i=0;i<v.length-1;i++)
        o=o[v[i]];
    o[v[v.length-1]]=value;
}

Example:

ReadValue("object.subobject.property");
WriteValue("object.subobject.property",5);

eval works for read value, but write value is a bit harder.

A more advanced version (Create subclasses if they dont exists, and allows objects instead of global variables)

function ReadValue(varname,o=window)
{
    if(typeof(varname)==="undefined" || typeof(o)==="undefined" || o===null)
        return undefined;
    var v=varname.split(".");
    if(!v.length)
        return undefined;
    for(var i=0;i<v.length-1;i++)
    {
        if(o[v[i]]===null || typeof(o[v[i]])==="undefined") 
            o[v[i]]={};
        o=o[v[i]];
    }
    if(typeof(o[v[v.length-1]])==="undefined")    
        return undefined;
    else    
        return o[v[v.length-1]];
}

function AssignValue(varname,value,o=window)
{
    if(typeof(varname)==="undefined" || typeof(o)==="undefined" || o===null)
        return;
    var v=varname.split(".");
    if(!v.length)
        return;
    for(var i=0;i<v.length-1;i++)
    {
        if(o[v[i]]===null || typeof(o[v[i]])==="undefined")
            o[v[i]]={};
        o=o[v[i]];
    }
    o[v[v.length-1]]=value;
}

Example:

ReadValue("object.subobject.property",o);
WriteValue("object.subobject.property",5,o);

This is the same that o.object.subobject.property

Just an addition to abeing's answer above. You can define a function to encapsulate the complexity of defineProperty as mentioned below.

var defineProp = function ( obj, key, value ){
  var config = {
    value: value,
    writable: true,
    enumerable: true,
    configurable: true
  };
  Object.defineProperty( obj, key, config );
};

//Call the method to add properties to any object
defineProp( data, "PropertyA",  1 );
defineProp( data, "PropertyB",  2 );
defineProp( data, "PropertyC",  3 );

reference: http://addyosmani.com/resources/essentialjsdesignpatterns/book/#constructorpatternjavascript

You can add as many more properties as you like simply by using the dot notation:

var data = {
    var1:'somevalue'
}
data.newAttribute = 'newvalue'

or:

data[newattribute] = somevalue

for dynamic keys.

I was looking for a solution where I can use dynamic key-names inside the object declaration (without using ES6 features like ... or [key]: value)

Here's what I came up with:

var obj = (obj = {}, obj[field] = 123, obj)

It looks a little bit complex at first, but it's really simple. We use the Comma Operator to run three commands in a row:

1. obj = {}: creates a new object and assigns it to the variable obj
2. obj[field] = 123: adds a computed property name to obj
3. obj: use the obj variable as the result of the parentheses/comma list

This syntax can be used inside a function parameter without the requirement to explictely declare the obj variable:

// The test function to see the result.
function showObject(obj) {
    console.log(obj);
}

// My dynamic field name.
var field = "myDynamicField";

// Call the function with our dynamic object.
showObject( (obj = {}, obj[field] = 123, obj) );

/*
Output:

{
  "myDynamicField": true
}
*/

Some variations

"strict mode" workaround:

The above code does not work in strict mode because the variable "obj" is not declared.

// This gives the same result, but declares the global variable `this.obj`!
showObject( (this.obj = {}, obj[field] = 123, obj) );

ES2015 code using computed property names in initializer:

// Works in most browsers, same result as the other functions.
showObject( {[field] = 123} );

This solution works in all modern browsers (but not in IE, if I need to mention that)

Super hacky way using JSON.parse():

// Create a JSON string that is parsed instantly. Not recommended in most cases.
showObject( JSON.parse( '{"' + field +'":123}') );
// read: showObject( JSON.parse( '{"myDynamicfield":123}') );

Allows special characters in keys

Note that you can also use spaces and other special characters inside computed property names (and also in JSON.parse).

var field = 'my dynamic field :)';
showObject( {[field] = 123} );
// result: { "my dynamic field :)": 123 }

Those fields cannot be accessed using a dot (obj.my dynamic field :) is obviously syntactically invalid), but only via the bracket-notation, i.e., obj['my dynamic field :)'] returns 123

Definitely. Think of it as a dictionary or associative array. You can add to it at any point.

I know that the question is answered perfectly, but I also found another way to add new properties and wanted to share it with you:

You can use the function Object.defineProperty()

Found on Mozilla Developer Network

Example:

var o = {}; // Creates a new object

// Example of an object property added with defineProperty with a data property descriptor
Object.defineProperty(o, "a", {value : 37,
                               writable : true,
                               enumerable : true,
                               configurable : true});
// 'a' property exists in the o object and its value is 37

// Example of an object property added with defineProperty with an accessor property descriptor
var bValue;
Object.defineProperty(o, "b", {get : function(){ return bValue; },
                               set : function(newValue){ bValue = newValue; },
                               enumerable : true,
                               configurable : true});
o.b = 38;
// 'b' property exists in the o object and its value is 38
// The value of o.b is now always identical to bValue, unless o.b is redefined

// You cannot try to mix both :
Object.defineProperty(o, "conflict", { value: 0x9f91102, 
                                       get: function() { return 0xdeadbeef; } });
// throws a TypeError: value appears only in data descriptors, get appears only in accessor descriptors

ES6 introduces computed property names, which allows you to do

let a = 'key'
let myObj = {[a]: 10};
// output will be {key:10}

Here, using your notation:

var data = {
    'PropertyA': 1,
    'PropertyB': 2,
    'PropertyC': 3
};
var propName = 'Property' + someUserInput
//imagine someUserInput was 'Z', how can I now add a 'PropertyZ' property to 
//my object?
data[propName] = 'Some New Property value'

Yes it is possible. Assuming:

var data = {
    'PropertyA': 1,
    'PropertyB': 2,
    'PropertyC': 3
};
var propertyName = "someProperty";
var propertyValue = "someValue";

Either:

data[propertyName] = propertyValue;

or

eval("data." + propertyName + " = '" + propertyValue + "'");

The first method is preferred. eval() has the obvious security concerns if you're using values supplied by the user so don't use it if you can avoid it but it's worth knowing it exists and what it can do.

You can reference this with:

alert(data.someProperty);

or

data(data["someProperty"]);

or

alert(data[propertyName]);

A perfect easy way

var data = {
    'PropertyA': 1,
    'PropertyB': 2,
    'PropertyC': 3
};

var newProperty = 'getThisFromUser';
data[newProperty] = 4;

console.log(data);

If you want to apply it on an array of data (ES6/TS version)

const data = [
  { 'PropertyA': 1, 'PropertyB': 2, 'PropertyC': 3 },
  { 'PropertyA': 11, 'PropertyB': 22, 'PropertyC': 33 }
];

const newProperty = 'getThisFromUser';
data.map( (d) => d[newProperty] = 4 );

console.log(data);

I know there are several answers to this post already, but I haven't seen one wherein there are multiple properties and they are within an array. And this solution by the way is for ES6.

For illustration, let's say we have an array named person with objects inside:

 let Person = [{id:1, Name: "John"}, {id:2, Name: "Susan"}, {id:3, Name: "Jet"}]

So, you can add a property with corresponding value. Let's say we want to add a Language with a default value of EN.

Person.map((obj)=>({...obj,['Language']:"EN"}))

The Person array now would become like this:

Person = [{id:1, Name: "John", Language:"EN"}, 
{id:2, Name: "Susan", Language:"EN"}, {id:3, Name: "Jet", Language:"EN"}]

Be careful while adding a property to the existing object using .(dot) method.

(.dot) method of adding a property to the object should only be used if you know the 'key' beforehand otherwise use the [bracket] method.

Example:

   var data = {_x000D_
        'Property1': 1_x000D_
    };_x000D_
    _x000D_
    // Two methods of adding a new property [ key (Property4), value (4) ] to the_x000D_
    // existing object (data)_x000D_
    data['Property2'] = 2; // bracket method_x000D_
    data.Property3 = 3;    // dot method_x000D_
    console.log(data);     // { Property1: 1, Property2: 2, Property3: 3 }_x000D_
    _x000D_
    // But if 'key' of a property is unknown and will be found / calculated_x000D_
    // dynamically then use only [bracket] method not a dot method    _x000D_
    var key;_x000D_
    for(var i = 4; i < 6; ++i) {_x000D_
     key = 'Property' + i;     // Key - dynamically calculated_x000D_
     data[key] = i; // CORRECT !!!!_x000D_
    }_x000D_
    console.log(data); _x000D_
    // { Property1: 1, Property2: 2, Property3: 3, Property4: 4, Property5: 5 }_x000D_
    _x000D_
    for(var i = 6; i < 2000; ++i) {_x000D_
     key = 'Property' + i; // Key - dynamically calculated_x000D_
     data.key = i;         // WRONG !!!!!_x000D_
    }_x000D_
    console.log(data); _x000D_
    // { Property1: 1, Property2: 2, Property3: 3, _x000D_
    //   Property4: 4, Property5: 5, key: 1999 }

Note the problem in the end of console log - 'key: 1999' instead of Property6: 6, Property7: 7,.........,Property1999: 1999. So the best way of adding dynamically created property is the [bracket] method.

The simplest and most portable way is.

var varFieldName = "good";
var ob = {};
Object.defineProperty(ob, varFieldName , { value: "Fresh Value" });

Based on #abeing answer!

Yes it is possible. I have achieved using below implementation. for that I am getting array in response which I want in an object as list of attributes.

response = {
  "equityMonths": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "month": "JANUARY",
      "isEligible": false
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "month": "FEBRUARY",
      "isEligible": true
    },
    {
      "id": 3,
      "month": "MARCH",
      "isEligible": false
    },
    {
      "id": 4,
      "month": "APRIL",
      "isEligible": true
    },
    {
      "id": 5,
      "month": "MAY",
      "isEligible": false
    },
    {
      "id": 6,
      "month": "JUNE",
      "isEligible": true
    },
    {
      "id": 7,
      "month": "JULY",
      "isEligible": true
    },
    {
      "id": 8,
      "month": "AUGUST",
      "isEligible": false
    },
    {
      "id": 9,
      "month": "SEPTEMBER",
      "isEligible": true
    },
    {
      "id": 10,
      "month": "OCTOBER",
      "isEligible": false
    },
    {
      "id": 11,
      "month": "NOVEMBER",
      "isEligible": true
    },
    {
      "id": 12,
      "month": "DECEMBER",
      "isEligible": false
    }
  ]
}

here, I want equityMonths as an object and Jan to Dec it's key and isEligible as value. for that we have to use Object class's defineProperty() method which allows to add dynamic property into objects.

code for adding property dynamically to the object.

let equityMonth = new Object();

response.equityMonths.forEach(element => {
    Object.defineProperty(equityMonth, element['month'], {
       value: element['isEligible'],
       writable: true,
       enumerable: true,
       configurable: true
    });
});
console.log("DATA : " + JSON.stringify(equityMonth));

in above code we have array of equityMonths which we have converted as property into the object.

output:

DATA : {"JANUARY":false,"FEBRUARY":true,"MARCH":false,"APRIL":true,"MAY":false,"JUNE":true,"JULY":true,"AUGUST":false,"SEPTEMBER":true,"OCTOBER":false,"NOVEMBER":true,"DECEMBER":false}

It can be useful if mixed new property add in runtime:

data = { ...data, newPropery: value}

However, spread operator use shallow copy but here we assign data to itself so should lose nothing