All the documentation I've found so far is to update keys that are already created:
arr['key'] = val;
I have a string like this: " name = oscar "
And I want to end up with something like this:
{ name: 'whatever' }
That is, split the string and get the first element, and then put that in a dictionary.
var text = ' name = oscar '
var dict = new Array();
var keyValuePair = text.split(' = ');
dict[ keyValuePair[0] ] = 'whatever';
alert( dict ); // Prints nothing.
This question is related to
javascript
associative-array
var myArray = new Array();
myArray['one'] = 1;
myArray['two'] = 2;
myArray['three'] = 3;
// Show the values stored
for (var i in myArray) {
alert('key is: ' + i + ', value is: ' + myArray[i]);
}
This is ok, but it iterates through every property of the array object.
If you want to only iterate through the properties myArray.one, myArray.two... you try like this:
myArray['one'] = 1;
myArray['two'] = 2;
myArray['three'] = 3;
myArray.push("one");
myArray.push("two");
myArray.push("three");
for(var i=0;i<maArray.length;i++){
console.log(myArray[myArray[i]])
}
Now you can access both by myArray["one"] and iterate only through these properties.
All modern browsers support a Map, which is a key/value data structure. There are a couple of reasons that make using a Map better than Object:
- An Object has a prototype, so there are default keys in the map.
- The keys of an Object are strings, where they can be any value for a Map.
- You can get the size of a Map easily while you have to keep track of size for an Object.
Example:
var myMap = new Map();
var keyObj = {},
keyFunc = function () {},
keyString = "a string";
myMap.set(keyString, "value associated with 'a string'");
myMap.set(keyObj, "value associated with keyObj");
myMap.set(keyFunc, "value associated with keyFunc");
myMap.size; // 3
myMap.get(keyString); // "value associated with 'a string'"
myMap.get(keyObj); // "value associated with keyObj"
myMap.get(keyFunc); // "value associated with keyFunc"
If you want keys that are not referenced from other objects to be garbage collected, consider using a WeakMap instead of a Map.
JavaScript does not have associative arrays. It has objects.
The following lines of code all do exactly the same thing - set the 'name' field on an object to 'orion'.
var f = new Object(); f.name = 'orion';
var f = new Object(); f['name'] = 'orion';
var f = new Array(); f.name = 'orion';
var f = new Array(); f['name'] = 'orion';
var f = new XMLHttpRequest(); f['name'] = 'orion';
It looks like you have an associative array because an Array is also an Object - however you're not actually adding things into the array at all; you're setting fields on the object.
Now that that is cleared up, here is a working solution to your example:
var text = '{ name = oscar }'
var dict = new Object();
// Remove {} and spaces
var cleaned = text.replace(/[{} ]/g, '');
// Split into key and value
var kvp = cleaned.split('=');
// Put in the object
dict[ kvp[0] ] = kvp[1];
alert( dict.name ); // Prints oscar.
I think it is better if you just created it like this:
var arr = [];
arr = {
key1: 'value1',
key2:'value2'
};
For more info, take a look at this:
Somehow all examples, while work well, are overcomplicated:
new Array(), which is an overkill (and an overhead) for a simple associative array (AKA dictionary).new Object(). It works fine, but why all this extra typing?This question is tagged "beginner", so let's make it simple.
The über-simple way to use a dictionary in JavaScript or "Why doesn't JavaScript have a special dictionary object?":
// Create an empty associative array (in JavaScript it is called ... Object)
var dict = {}; // Huh? {} is a shortcut for "new Object()"
// Add a key named fred with value 42
dict.fred = 42; // We can do that because "fred" is a constant
// and conforms to id rules
// Add a key named 2bob2 with value "twins!"
dict["2bob2"] = "twins!"; // We use the subscript notation because
// the key is arbitrary (not id)
// Add an arbitrary dynamic key with a dynamic value
var key = ..., // Insanely complex calculations for the key
val = ...; // Insanely complex calculations for the value
dict[key] = val;
// Read value of "fred"
val = dict.fred;
// Read value of 2bob2
val = dict["2bob2"];
// Read value of our cool secret key
val = dict[key];
Now let's change values:
// Change the value of fred
dict.fred = "astra";
// The assignment creates and/or replaces key-value pairs
// Change the value of 2bob2
dict["2bob2"] = [1, 2, 3]; // Any legal value can be used
// Change value of our secret key
dict[key] = undefined;
// Contrary to popular beliefs, assigning "undefined" does not remove the key
// Go over all keys and values in our dictionary
for (key in dict) {
// A for-in loop goes over all properties, including inherited properties
// Let's use only our own properties
if (dict.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
console.log("key = " + key + ", value = " + dict[key]);
}
}
Deleting values is easy too:
// Let's delete fred
delete dict.fred;
// fred is removed, but the rest is still intact
// Let's delete 2bob2
delete dict["2bob2"];
// Let's delete our secret key
delete dict[key];
// Now dict is empty
// Let's replace it, recreating all original data
dict = {
fred: 42,
"2bob2": "twins!"
// We can't add the original secret key because it was dynamic, but
// we can only add static keys
// ...
// oh well
temp1: val
};
// Let's rename temp1 into our secret key:
if (key != "temp1") {
dict[key] = dict.temp1; // Copy the value
delete dict.temp1; // Kill the old key
} else {
// Do nothing; we are good ;-)
}
var myArray = new Array();
myArray['one'] = 1;
myArray['two'] = 2;
myArray['three'] = 3;
// Show the values stored
for (var i in myArray) {
alert('key is: ' + i + ', value is: ' + myArray[i]);
}
This is ok, but it iterates through every property of the array object.
If you want to only iterate through the properties myArray.one, myArray.two... you try like this:
myArray['one'] = 1;
myArray['two'] = 2;
myArray['three'] = 3;
myArray.push("one");
myArray.push("two");
myArray.push("three");
for(var i=0;i<maArray.length;i++){
console.log(myArray[myArray[i]])
}
Now you can access both by myArray["one"] and iterate only through these properties.
In response to MK_Dev, one is able to iterate, but not consecutively (for that, obviously an array is needed).
A quick Google search brings up hash tables in JavaScript.
Example code for looping over values in a hash (from the aforementioned link):
var myArray = new Array();
myArray['one'] = 1;
myArray['two'] = 2;
myArray['three'] = 3;
// Show the values stored
for (var i in myArray) {
alert('key is: ' + i + ', value is: ' + myArray[i]);
}
JavaScript does not have associative arrays. It has objects.
The following lines of code all do exactly the same thing - set the 'name' field on an object to 'orion'.
var f = new Object(); f.name = 'orion';
var f = new Object(); f['name'] = 'orion';
var f = new Array(); f.name = 'orion';
var f = new Array(); f['name'] = 'orion';
var f = new XMLHttpRequest(); f['name'] = 'orion';
It looks like you have an associative array because an Array is also an Object - however you're not actually adding things into the array at all; you're setting fields on the object.
Now that that is cleared up, here is a working solution to your example:
var text = '{ name = oscar }'
var dict = new Object();
// Remove {} and spaces
var cleaned = text.replace(/[{} ]/g, '');
// Split into key and value
var kvp = cleaned.split('=');
// Put in the object
dict[ kvp[0] ] = kvp[1];
alert( dict.name ); // Prints oscar.
I think it is better if you just created it like this:
var arr = [];
arr = {
key1: 'value1',
key2:'value2'
};
For more info, take a look at this:
Somehow all examples, while work well, are overcomplicated:
new Array(), which is an overkill (and an overhead) for a simple associative array (AKA dictionary).new Object(). It works fine, but why all this extra typing?This question is tagged "beginner", so let's make it simple.
The über-simple way to use a dictionary in JavaScript or "Why doesn't JavaScript have a special dictionary object?":
// Create an empty associative array (in JavaScript it is called ... Object)
var dict = {}; // Huh? {} is a shortcut for "new Object()"
// Add a key named fred with value 42
dict.fred = 42; // We can do that because "fred" is a constant
// and conforms to id rules
// Add a key named 2bob2 with value "twins!"
dict["2bob2"] = "twins!"; // We use the subscript notation because
// the key is arbitrary (not id)
// Add an arbitrary dynamic key with a dynamic value
var key = ..., // Insanely complex calculations for the key
val = ...; // Insanely complex calculations for the value
dict[key] = val;
// Read value of "fred"
val = dict.fred;
// Read value of 2bob2
val = dict["2bob2"];
// Read value of our cool secret key
val = dict[key];
Now let's change values:
// Change the value of fred
dict.fred = "astra";
// The assignment creates and/or replaces key-value pairs
// Change the value of 2bob2
dict["2bob2"] = [1, 2, 3]; // Any legal value can be used
// Change value of our secret key
dict[key] = undefined;
// Contrary to popular beliefs, assigning "undefined" does not remove the key
// Go over all keys and values in our dictionary
for (key in dict) {
// A for-in loop goes over all properties, including inherited properties
// Let's use only our own properties
if (dict.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
console.log("key = " + key + ", value = " + dict[key]);
}
}
Deleting values is easy too:
// Let's delete fred
delete dict.fred;
// fred is removed, but the rest is still intact
// Let's delete 2bob2
delete dict["2bob2"];
// Let's delete our secret key
delete dict[key];
// Now dict is empty
// Let's replace it, recreating all original data
dict = {
fred: 42,
"2bob2": "twins!"
// We can't add the original secret key because it was dynamic, but
// we can only add static keys
// ...
// oh well
temp1: val
};
// Let's rename temp1 into our secret key:
if (key != "temp1") {
dict[key] = dict.temp1; // Copy the value
delete dict.temp1; // Kill the old key
} else {
// Do nothing; we are good ;-)
}
The original code (I added the line numbers so can refer to them):
1 var text = ' name = oscar '
2 var dict = new Array();
3 var keyValuePair = text.split(' = ');
4 dict[ keyValuePair[0] ] = 'whatever';
5 alert( dict ); // Prints nothing.
Almost there...
line 1: you should do a trim on text so it is name = oscar.
line 3: okay as long as you always have spaces around your equal.
It might be better to not trim in line 1. Use = and trim each keyValuePair
add a line after 3 and before 4:
key = keyValuePair[0];`
line 4: Now becomes:
dict[key] = keyValuePair[1];
line 5: Change to:
alert( dict['name'] ); // It will print out 'oscar'
I'm trying to say that the dict[keyValuePair[0]] does not work. You need to set a string to keyValuePair[0] and use that as the associative key. That is the only way I got mine to work. After you have set it up, you can either refer to it with numeric index or key in quotes.
In response to MK_Dev, one is able to iterate, but not consecutively (for that, obviously an array is needed).
A quick Google search brings up hash tables in JavaScript.
Example code for looping over values in a hash (from the aforementioned link):
var myArray = new Array();
myArray['one'] = 1;
myArray['two'] = 2;
myArray['three'] = 3;
// Show the values stored
for (var i in myArray) {
alert('key is: ' + i + ', value is: ' + myArray[i]);
}
All modern browsers support a Map, which is a key/value data structure. There are a couple of reasons that make using a Map better than Object:
- An Object has a prototype, so there are default keys in the map.
- The keys of an Object are strings, where they can be any value for a Map.
- You can get the size of a Map easily while you have to keep track of size for an Object.
Example:
var myMap = new Map();
var keyObj = {},
keyFunc = function () {},
keyString = "a string";
myMap.set(keyString, "value associated with 'a string'");
myMap.set(keyObj, "value associated with keyObj");
myMap.set(keyFunc, "value associated with keyFunc");
myMap.size; // 3
myMap.get(keyString); // "value associated with 'a string'"
myMap.get(keyObj); // "value associated with keyObj"
myMap.get(keyFunc); // "value associated with keyFunc"
If you want keys that are not referenced from other objects to be garbage collected, consider using a WeakMap instead of a Map.
JavaScript does not have associative arrays. It has objects.
The following lines of code all do exactly the same thing - set the 'name' field on an object to 'orion'.
var f = new Object(); f.name = 'orion';
var f = new Object(); f['name'] = 'orion';
var f = new Array(); f.name = 'orion';
var f = new Array(); f['name'] = 'orion';
var f = new XMLHttpRequest(); f['name'] = 'orion';
It looks like you have an associative array because an Array is also an Object - however you're not actually adding things into the array at all; you're setting fields on the object.
Now that that is cleared up, here is a working solution to your example:
var text = '{ name = oscar }'
var dict = new Object();
// Remove {} and spaces
var cleaned = text.replace(/[{} ]/g, '');
// Split into key and value
var kvp = cleaned.split('=');
// Put in the object
dict[ kvp[0] ] = kvp[1];
alert( dict.name ); // Prints oscar.
In response to MK_Dev, one is able to iterate, but not consecutively (for that, obviously an array is needed).
A quick Google search brings up hash tables in JavaScript.
Example code for looping over values in a hash (from the aforementioned link):
var myArray = new Array();
myArray['one'] = 1;
myArray['two'] = 2;
myArray['three'] = 3;
// Show the values stored
for (var i in myArray) {
alert('key is: ' + i + ', value is: ' + myArray[i]);
}
Somehow all examples, while work well, are overcomplicated:
new Array(), which is an overkill (and an overhead) for a simple associative array (AKA dictionary).new Object(). It works fine, but why all this extra typing?This question is tagged "beginner", so let's make it simple.
The über-simple way to use a dictionary in JavaScript or "Why doesn't JavaScript have a special dictionary object?":
// Create an empty associative array (in JavaScript it is called ... Object)
var dict = {}; // Huh? {} is a shortcut for "new Object()"
// Add a key named fred with value 42
dict.fred = 42; // We can do that because "fred" is a constant
// and conforms to id rules
// Add a key named 2bob2 with value "twins!"
dict["2bob2"] = "twins!"; // We use the subscript notation because
// the key is arbitrary (not id)
// Add an arbitrary dynamic key with a dynamic value
var key = ..., // Insanely complex calculations for the key
val = ...; // Insanely complex calculations for the value
dict[key] = val;
// Read value of "fred"
val = dict.fred;
// Read value of 2bob2
val = dict["2bob2"];
// Read value of our cool secret key
val = dict[key];
Now let's change values:
// Change the value of fred
dict.fred = "astra";
// The assignment creates and/or replaces key-value pairs
// Change the value of 2bob2
dict["2bob2"] = [1, 2, 3]; // Any legal value can be used
// Change value of our secret key
dict[key] = undefined;
// Contrary to popular beliefs, assigning "undefined" does not remove the key
// Go over all keys and values in our dictionary
for (key in dict) {
// A for-in loop goes over all properties, including inherited properties
// Let's use only our own properties
if (dict.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
console.log("key = " + key + ", value = " + dict[key]);
}
}
Deleting values is easy too:
// Let's delete fred
delete dict.fred;
// fred is removed, but the rest is still intact
// Let's delete 2bob2
delete dict["2bob2"];
// Let's delete our secret key
delete dict[key];
// Now dict is empty
// Let's replace it, recreating all original data
dict = {
fred: 42,
"2bob2": "twins!"
// We can't add the original secret key because it was dynamic, but
// we can only add static keys
// ...
// oh well
temp1: val
};
// Let's rename temp1 into our secret key:
if (key != "temp1") {
dict[key] = dict.temp1; // Copy the value
delete dict.temp1; // Kill the old key
} else {
// Do nothing; we are good ;-)
}
The original code (I added the line numbers so can refer to them):
1 var text = ' name = oscar '
2 var dict = new Array();
3 var keyValuePair = text.split(' = ');
4 dict[ keyValuePair[0] ] = 'whatever';
5 alert( dict ); // Prints nothing.
Almost there...
line 1: you should do a trim on text so it is name = oscar.
line 3: okay as long as you always have spaces around your equal.
It might be better to not trim in line 1. Use = and trim each keyValuePair
add a line after 3 and before 4:
key = keyValuePair[0];`
line 4: Now becomes:
dict[key] = keyValuePair[1];
line 5: Change to:
alert( dict['name'] ); // It will print out 'oscar'
I'm trying to say that the dict[keyValuePair[0]] does not work. You need to set a string to keyValuePair[0] and use that as the associative key. That is the only way I got mine to work. After you have set it up, you can either refer to it with numeric index or key in quotes.
var obj = {};
for (i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
if(i%2==0) {
var left = data[i].substring(data[i].indexOf('.') + 1);
var right = data[i + 1].substring(data[i + 1].indexOf('.') + 1);
obj[left] = right;
count++;
}
}
console.log("obj");
console.log(obj);
// Show the values stored
for (var i in obj) {
console.log('key is: ' + i + ', value is: ' + obj[i]);
}
}
};
}
Somehow all examples, while work well, are overcomplicated:
new Array(), which is an overkill (and an overhead) for a simple associative array (AKA dictionary).new Object(). It works fine, but why all this extra typing?This question is tagged "beginner", so let's make it simple.
The über-simple way to use a dictionary in JavaScript or "Why doesn't JavaScript have a special dictionary object?":
// Create an empty associative array (in JavaScript it is called ... Object)
var dict = {}; // Huh? {} is a shortcut for "new Object()"
// Add a key named fred with value 42
dict.fred = 42; // We can do that because "fred" is a constant
// and conforms to id rules
// Add a key named 2bob2 with value "twins!"
dict["2bob2"] = "twins!"; // We use the subscript notation because
// the key is arbitrary (not id)
// Add an arbitrary dynamic key with a dynamic value
var key = ..., // Insanely complex calculations for the key
val = ...; // Insanely complex calculations for the value
dict[key] = val;
// Read value of "fred"
val = dict.fred;
// Read value of 2bob2
val = dict["2bob2"];
// Read value of our cool secret key
val = dict[key];
Now let's change values:
// Change the value of fred
dict.fred = "astra";
// The assignment creates and/or replaces key-value pairs
// Change the value of 2bob2
dict["2bob2"] = [1, 2, 3]; // Any legal value can be used
// Change value of our secret key
dict[key] = undefined;
// Contrary to popular beliefs, assigning "undefined" does not remove the key
// Go over all keys and values in our dictionary
for (key in dict) {
// A for-in loop goes over all properties, including inherited properties
// Let's use only our own properties
if (dict.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
console.log("key = " + key + ", value = " + dict[key]);
}
}
Deleting values is easy too:
// Let's delete fred
delete dict.fred;
// fred is removed, but the rest is still intact
// Let's delete 2bob2
delete dict["2bob2"];
// Let's delete our secret key
delete dict[key];
// Now dict is empty
// Let's replace it, recreating all original data
dict = {
fred: 42,
"2bob2": "twins!"
// We can't add the original secret key because it was dynamic, but
// we can only add static keys
// ...
// oh well
temp1: val
};
// Let's rename temp1 into our secret key:
if (key != "temp1") {
dict[key] = dict.temp1; // Copy the value
delete dict.temp1; // Kill the old key
} else {
// Do nothing; we are good ;-)
}
In response to MK_Dev, one is able to iterate, but not consecutively (for that, obviously an array is needed).
A quick Google search brings up hash tables in JavaScript.
Example code for looping over values in a hash (from the aforementioned link):
var myArray = new Array();
myArray['one'] = 1;
myArray['two'] = 2;
myArray['three'] = 3;
// Show the values stored
for (var i in myArray) {
alert('key is: ' + i + ', value is: ' + myArray[i]);
}
var obj = {};
for (i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
if(i%2==0) {
var left = data[i].substring(data[i].indexOf('.') + 1);
var right = data[i + 1].substring(data[i + 1].indexOf('.') + 1);
obj[left] = right;
count++;
}
}
console.log("obj");
console.log(obj);
// Show the values stored
for (var i in obj) {
console.log('key is: ' + i + ', value is: ' + obj[i]);
}
}
};
}
Source: Stackoverflow.com