How to get array key name using jQuery?

Question

I have an array like this:

var myArray = new Array();

myArray['foo'] = {
    Obj: {
        key: value
    }
};
myArray['bar'] = {
    Obj: {
        key: value
    }
};

When I do console.log(myArray) I just get empty [ ]. And when I try to iterate the array using jQuery's each the function doesn't run.

How can I get the 'foo' and 'bar' parts of the array?

Example code:

console.log(myArray); // [ ]

jQuery.each(myArray, function(key, obj) {
    console.log(key); // should be 'foo' following by 'bar'
});

In addition, why does this work:

jQuery.each(myArray[foo], function(obj, values) {

    // Why does this work if there are no associative arrays in JS?

});

There are no associative arrays in javascript, when using strings as keys, you have an object. — adeneo
– adeneo, Commented Jul 23, 2014 at 11:11
So how come I can jQuery.each(myArray[foo], function(key, obj) { ? How can I use a sort of associated key array as I need to create an array of settings for a project — beingalex
– beingalex, Commented Jul 23, 2014 at 11:12
this is multi dimensional array in this case it is 2 dimensional — Pramod S. Nikam
– Pramod S. Nikam, Commented Jul 23, 2014 at 11:16

Jonathan · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-27 20:11:59Z

3

You need to define it as an object if you want to access it like that:

var myObj= {};

myObj.foo = ...;
myObj.bar = ...;

Now you can access the properties like myObj["bar"] or myObj.bar

Note:
To loop through all the properties it's wise to add an additional check. This is to prevent you from looping through inherited properties.

for (var key in obj) {
    if (obj.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
        // Do stuff.
    }
}

edited Jun 27, 2016 at 20:11

answered Jul 23, 2014 at 11:16

Jonathan

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2 Comments

Ben Over a year ago

Note: Arrays are actually objects too in Javascript with their own properties that you can set/get. This is why the last example in the question worked.

beingalex Over a year ago

Will accept this answer. I never knew the browser converted the array to an object.

Super Hornet · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-23 11:15:28Z

3

you can get keys by:

Object.keys(variable name);

it returns array of keys.

answered Jul 23, 2014 at 11:15

Super Hornet

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:08:28Z

2

Array is a collection where each element has an index. To add element to array you can use push method

 myArray.push('someValue');

or set element by index (if length of array < index):

 myArray.push('someValue1');
 myArray.push('someValue1');
 myArray[0] = 'new someValue1';

Note that array is an instance of Object class, so you can add/edit any property of this object:

myArray.foo = '1';
myArray['bar'] = '2';

In this case you will not add new element to array, you defining new properties of object. And you don't need to create object as Array if you don't wont to use indexes. To create new object use this code:

var myObj = {};

To get all properties of object see How to get all properties values of a Javascript Object (without knowing the keys)?

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:08

CommunityBot

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answered Jul 23, 2014 at 11:21

Livon

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Comments

Mindaugas Večkys · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-23 11:18:24Z

0

var myArray = {};

myArray['foo'] = {  'key': 'value'  }

myArray['bar'] ={  'key': 'value'  }

console.log(myArray)

jQuery.each(myArray['foo'], function(obj, values) {

   console.log(obj, values)

});

Demo

answered Jul 23, 2014 at 11:18

Mindaugas Večkys

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Comments

DerZyklop · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-23 11:29:39Z

0

With your Array of Objects you could use this function:

var getKeys = function(obj) {
  if (!(typeof obj == "object")) return [];
  var keys = [];
  for (var key in obj) if (obj != null && hasOwnProperty.call(obj, key)) keys.push(key);
  return keys;
};

getKeys(myArray) would give you an array of your Keys.

This is basically a cleared up version of underscores _.keys(myArray) function. You should consider using underscore.

answered Jul 23, 2014 at 11:29

DerZyklop

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Comments

Abhinay Reddy Keesara · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-21 22:32:57Z

0

// $.each() function can be used to iterate over any collection, whether it is an object or an array.

var myArray = {};
myArray['alfa'] = 0;
myArray['beta'] = 1;
$.each(myArray, function(key, value) {
      alert(key);
});

Note: checkout http://api.jquery.com/jQuery.each/ for more information.

answered Jun 21, 2016 at 22:32

Abhinay Reddy Keesara

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