array object with named key

Question

I have found this code...

var newEntry, table = [];
newEntry = {
    id: '321',
    price: '1000',
};
table.push(newEntry);
alert(table[0].id);

It works like expected. However I need to add more than one entry, like this...

var newFont, newColor, table = [];
newFont = {
    family: 'arial',
    size: '12',
};
newColor = {
    hex: 'red',
};
table.push(newFont);
table.push(newColor);
alert(table[0].font);

Problem

I don't want to write table[0].family.
Instead I would like to write table['font'].family.
It's a named key instead of just a number. It would be better if the settings increase.

Retagged as JavaScript since this is not related to jQuery in any way. It is purely about JavaScript. jQuery is just a JavaScript library. — James Allardice
– James Allardice, Commented Oct 30, 2013 at 9:00

T.J. Crowder · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-30 08:59:55Z

1

It sounds like you want an object, not an array:

var settings = {
    font: {
        family: 'arial',
        size: '12'
    },
    color: {
        hex: 'red'
    }
};
alert(settings.font.family);    // one way to get it
alert(settings['font'].family); // another way to get it

answered Oct 30, 2013 at 8:59

T.J. Crowder

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Comments

MrCode · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-30 08:59:17Z

0

In JavaScript, arrays can't have named keys, but you can change table to an object and use named keys.

var newFont, newColor, table = {};
newFont = {
    family: 'arial',
    size: '12',
};
newColor = {
    hex: 'red',
};

table.font = newFont;
table.color = newColor;

console.log(table['font'].family);
console.log(table.font.family);

answered Oct 30, 2013 at 8:59

MrCode

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4 Comments

T.J. Crowder Over a year ago

"In JavaScript, arrays can't have named keys" Yes, they can. Standard JavaScript arrays aren't really arrays at all, they're just objects with some special behavior. var a = []; a.foo = "bar"; console.log(a.foo); will show you "bar".

MrCode Over a year ago

well what you're saying is true and I agree but in practice you would distinguish between objects and arrays, only using an array if fit for purpose. I probably should have said arrays shouldn't have named keys in the context of what OP wants.

T.J. Crowder Over a year ago

I add named keys to arrays all the time. For instance, if I want something that's ordered but I also want to look up entries by a key property, I'll usually do a = []; a.index = {}; and then add the objects to the array and the index (using the key). It's fine provided you don't expect it to survive a round trip through JSON, since JSON's arrays don't have a notation for this.

MrCode Over a year ago

Looks like we could debate this for some time. Thanks for the comments, cheers

Mirza Selimovic · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-30 08:59:21Z

0

Did you try this : table['font'] = newFont; ?

answered Oct 30, 2013 at 8:59

Mirza Selimovic

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