This seems to be a common source of confusion from what I've seen, and apparently I'm no exception. I've read a few tutorials on this, and I still can't quite get my head around it. From what I can gather, Arrays are objects in Javascript, just like Strings and other variable types. But I still don't get how that helps me declare a multidimensional array with alphanumeric keys.
In PHP I can simply write:
$calendar = array();
foreach ($schedule->currentExhibitions as $key) {
$calendar[$key["ExhibitionID"]]["startDate"] = date("Y,n,j", strtotime($exhibition["StartDate"]));
$calendar[$key["ExhibitionID"]]["endDate"] = date("Y,n,j", strtotime($exhibition["StartDate"]));
}
But in Javascript trying something similar will create errors. Should I create an Array and fill it will Objects? If so, how would I go about doing so? Or should I just use an Object entirely and skip having any sort of Array? (If so, how do I create a multidimensional Object?)
Sorry for the newbish quesion!
If your keys are strictly numerical and ordered starting at zero, then an array makes sense and you can use square bracket notation just like you would in php, although you will need to initialize sub-arrays if you want to have multiple dimensions :
var myArray = [];
myArray[0] = [];
myArray[0][0] = "something interesting";
If your keys are not numerical, ordered and starting at zero, then you should use an object (all keys are strings), which still allows the square bracket notation :
var myObject = {};
myObject["1A"] = {};
myObject["1A"]["3B"] = "something interesting";
In Javascript, an array is an object, who's keys are numerical, sequential, indexes.
As soon as you want to use alpha-numerica (aka strings) keys, you use a regular object.
In JS to do what you want, you'd do the following (using more or less your php code).
var calendar = {};
Object.keys(schedule.currentExhibitions).forEach(function(key) {
var ex = schedule.currentExhibitions[key];
calendar[ex.exhibitionId] = calendar[ex.exhibitionId] || {}; //if the key doesn't exist, create it.
calendar[ex.exhibitionId].startDate = date(); //some js date function here
calendar[ex.exhibitionId].endDate = date(); //your js date function here
});
I look at Multidimension as nesting, and at multiple levels of nestings as complex objects. For example:
var parent = [];//top holder
var child1 = {};
child1.name = "Jim";
parent.push(child1);
In this simple example, you can access child1 like this:
parent[0]["name"] //Jim
So that is, in a way, multidemensional. Instead of using ["name"] as an indexer, or child1 as an object it could also be an array, like this:
var parent = [];//top holder
var child1 = [];
child1.push("Jim");
parent.push(child1);
In this example, you could get Jim with:
parent[0][0];//Jim
So for complex examples you may have multiple levels of these nestings (or dimensions).
parent[0]["Child"].grandChild[5]["cousin"].name //etc
Where that would just be a continuation of the previous examples down the line.
If you want to preserve order or you want to access by numeric index, use an array. The value of the array can be a single value or an object or array itself (so each value in the array can contain more than a simple value).
If you want to access by a unique alphanumeric key, then use an object and assign properties to it.
Arrays have numeric indexes. They do not have alphanumeric indexes.
Objects have string keys.
Because an array is also an object, it can have both types of keys, but using a string key is not an array access, it's accessing a property of the object.
When you ask for the .length of an array, you only get the length of the numeric indexes. It does not include other properties of the object.
An array of objects is a very practical data structure in javascript and is used quite often when either order or index by numeric index is important.
If order is not important or you don't need to access by numeric index and just want to access by an alpha numeric string, then you should just use an object and set a properties on it with keys that are your alphanumeric string.
Related
I have a strange problem. I need a multidimensional javascript array that has numeric indexes e.g.:
MyArray = new Array();
$(".list-ui-wrapper").each(function(){
var unique = $(this).attr('id').replace(/[^\d.]/g,'');
MyArray ["'"+unique+"'"] = new Array();
});
The unique is a 8 digit integer. So if I dont wrap it inside the quotes, the ListUI_col_orders array will become extremly big, because if the unique = 85481726 then javascript will fill the array with 85481725 undefined elements before the the new empty array at the 85481726th index.
My problem is that later if i generate the unique again i cannot access the array anymore:
var unique = $(this).attr('id').replace(/[^\d.]/g,'');
console.log(MyArray [unique]); // undefined
console.log(MyArray ['"'+unique+'"']); // undefined
console.log(MyArray [unique.toString()]); // undefined
Any tips?
If you are going to use an array that's mostly sparse, then use a Hash table instead.
eg, set your variable as follows:
ListUI_col_Orders = {};
Then your indexing will be a key, so you don't have to worry about all the interstitial elements taking up space.
...because if the unique = 85481726 then javascript will fill the array with 85481725 undefined elements before the the new empty array at the 85481726th index.
No, it won't. JavaScript standard arrays are sparse. Setting an element at index 85481725 results in an array with one entry, and a length value of 85481726. That's all it does. More: A myth of arrays
The problem is that you're trying to retrieve the information with a different key than the key you used to store it. When storing, you're using a key with single quotes in it (actually in the key), on this line of code:
MyArray ["'"+unique+"'"] = new Array();
Say unique is 85481726. That line then is equivalent to this:
MyArray ["'85481726'"] = new Array();
Note that the key you're using (the text between the double quotes) has ' at the beginning and end. The actual property name has those quotes in it. Since it doesn't fit the definition of an array index, it doesn't affect length. It's a non-index object property. (How can you add a property to an array that isn't an array index? Arrays are not really arrays, see the link above.)
Later, you never use that key when trying to retrieve the value:
var unique = $(this).attr('id').replace(/[^\d.]/g,'');
console.log(MyArray [unique]); // undefined
console.log(MyArray ['"'+unique+'"']); // undefined
console.log(MyArray [unique.toString()]); // undefined
The keys you tried there were 85481726, "85481726" (with double quotes), and 85481726 again. Note that you never tried '85481726' (with single quotes), which is the key you used originally. Since you didn't use the same key, you didn't get the value.
Either use consistent quotes, or (much better) don't use quotes at all. Don't worry about the array length being a large number, JavaScript arrays are inherently sparse. Adding an entry with a large index does not create several thousand undefined entries in front of it.
All of that being said, unless you need the "array-ness" of arrays, you can just use an object instead. Arrays are useful if you use their features; if you're not using their array features, just use an object.
More about the sparseness of arrays: Consider this code:
var a = [];
a[9] = "testing";
console.log(a.length); // 10
Although the length property is 10, the array has only one entry in it, at index 9. This is not just sophistry, it's the actual, technical truth. You can tell using in or hasOwnProperty:
console.log(a.hasOwnProperty(3)); // false
console.log("3" in a); // false
When you try to retrieve an array element that doesn't exist, the result of that retrieval is undefined. But that doesn't mean there's an element there; there isn't. Just that trying to retrieve an element that doesn't exist returns undefined. You get the same thing if you try to retrieve any other property the object doesn't have:
var a = [];
a[9] = "testing";
console.log(a[0]); // undefined
console.log(a[200]); // undefined
console.log(a["foo"]); // undefined
Final note: All of this is true of the standard arrays created with [] or new Array(). In the next spec, JavaScript is gaining true arrays, created with constructors like Int32Array and such. Those are real arrays. (Many engines already have them.)
Sorry for asking a noob question but if I have an array:
MyArray["2cd"]="blah1";
MyArray["3cx"]="blah3";
MyArray["8cz"]="blah2";
And a string myStr="2cd";
And then I use MyArray[myStr] to get the value of blah, how can I get the number I am accessing in the object/array or 0 in this case?
If I may read between the lines, it sounds like you're thinking that the code you posted:
MyArray["2cd"] = "blah1";
MyArray["3cx"] = "blah3";
MyArray["8cz"] = "blah2";
will automatically become the equivalent of:
MyArray[0] = MyArray["2cd"] = "blah1";
MyArray[1] = MyArray["3cx"] = "blah3";
MyArray[2] = MyArray["8cz"] = "blah2";
and therefore you can get the string "blah1" either of these two ways:
var foo = MyArray[0]; // sets foo to "blah1"
var bar = MyArray["2cd"] // also sets bar to "blah1"
But that's not how JavaScript works.
You certainly can set things up so you can use my MyArray[0] and MyArray["2cd"] to fetch the same value, but you have to do it explicitly as in my example.
One thing you didn't mention is how you declared MyArray itself. Is it an Array or an Object? That is, before the code you posted, did you create MyArray with:
var MyArray = {}; // or equivalently, var Array = new Object;
or:
var MyArray = []; // or equivalently, var Array = new Array;
The first example creates an Object, the second an Array.
What is a bit confusing is that JavaScript has both of these two types, which in many cases you can use somewhat interchangeably. But it's customary to use an Object when you are using arbitrary (generally but not necessarily non-numeric) keys into the object, as in your example. Conversely, it's customary to use an Array when you are primarily using strictly numeric indexes.
In fact, JavaScript's Array type inherits from the Object type. An Array is simply an Object with some additional behavior:
An Array has additional methods such as .push() which appends an item to the array.
An Array has a .length property which is automatically updated when you add elements with .push() or a direct array[123] assignment, or when you remove elements with .pop() or other methods.
What JavaScript doesn't have, as FabrÃcio pointed out, is an "associative array" that behaves like what you might find in some other languages. It has Objects and it has Arrays (which inherit from Objects), and you have to deal with each of those on their own terms.
Doing so
var x = new Array();
x['length']=5;
will make x an array of 5 undefined items, but I actually want to have the value '5' stored at key 'length'.
Is that possible?
In javascript arrays do not have keys. You are looking for objects:
var x = {}
x.length = 5;
I have to parse a file containing many words and store the number of occurences of each word
Use an object, and make the words the keys. You aren't storing sequential / ordered data, so you shouldn't use an array.
var word_count = {};
for (var i; i < words.length; i++) {
var word = words[i];
if (word_count[word]) {
word_count[word]++;
} else {
word_count[word] = 1;
}
If you want to do this you'd be better off creating an object rather than an array. This should give you what you want.
var x = {};
x['length'] = 5;
You can call methods on a javascript object using two different syntaxes. The familiar 'dot' syntax with parens to invoke the method, and the square bracket syntax. You can 'call' a method on a javascript object using the syntax myObj["methodname"](args). This is handy when you want to construct the method name dynamically using strings. Remember, objects in javascript are very much like a hash table (dictionary) where keys denote property and function names. If a key's value holds a function, it can be invoked (using parentheses).
In your example, Array has a method called 'length'. You are inadvertently calling its setter (which sets the length of the array to empty values, i.e., undefined).
Putting that all aside, you really do want a hash (associative array) in this case. An array is an offset indexed data structure.
A simple object literal like myObj = {} will suffice to give you hash semantics (again, objects in javascript are already like hashes) and you can then call myObj.whatever = "some value"
You could use objects instead of arrays to store your data. But if you need to use Arrays (you might need to use their functionality), You could cripple the words and store them as array keys.
Use some kind of simple rule to follow to bypass all the possible keywords. For example prefix all your array keys with a "_" character. This way you could always restore the original words from the keys, by simply removing their first character, and you are sure you are not referencing any specific property of the Array objects (like the length property).
I was trying to define an array (including other arrays as values) in a single javascript statement, that I can loop through to validate a form on submission.
The function I wrote to (try to) create inline arrays follows:
function arr(){
var inc;
var tempa = new Array(Math.round(arguments.length/2));
for(inc=0; inc<arguments.length; inc=inc+2) {
tempa[arguments[inc]]=arguments[inc+1];
}
return tempa;
}
This is called three times here to assign an array:
window.validArr = arr(
'f-county',arr('maxlen',10, 'minlen',1),
'f-postcode',arr('maxlen',8, 'minlen',6)
);
However in the javascript debugger the variable is empty, and the arr() function is not returning anything. Does anyone know why my expectations on what this code should do are incorrect?
(I have worked out how to create the array without this function, but I'm curious why this code doesn't work (I thought I understood javascript better than this).)
Well from what your code does, you're not really making arrays. In JavaScript, the thing that makes arrays special is the management of the numerically indexed properties. Otherwise they're just objects, so they can have other properties too, but if you're not using arrays as arrays you might as well just use objects:
function arr(){
var inc;
var tempa = {};
for(inc=0; inc<arguments.length; inc=inc+2) {
tempa[arguments[inc]]=arguments[inc+1];
}
return tempa;
}
What you're seeing from the debugger is the result of it attempting to show you your array as a real array should be shown: that is, its numerically indexed properties. If you call your "arr()" function as is and then look at (from your example) the "f-county" property of the result, you'll see something there.
Also, if you do find yourself wanting a real array, there's absolutely no point in initializing them to a particular size. Just create a new array with []:
var tempa = [];
Your code works. Just inspect your variable, and you will see that the array has the custom keys on it. If not expanded, your debugger shows you just the (numerical) indixed values in short syntax - none for you.
But, you may need to understand the difference between Arrays and Objects. An Object is just key-value-pairs (you could call it a "map"), and its prototype. An Array is a special type of object. It has special prototype methods, a length functionality and a different approach: to store index-value-pairs (even though indexes are still keys). So, you shouldn't use an Array as an associative array.
Therefore, their literal syntax differs:
var array = ["indexed with key 0", "indexed with key 1", ...];
var object = {"custom":"keyed as 'custom'", "another":"string", ...};
// but you still can add keys to array objects:
array.custom = "keyed as 'custom'";
If I have a Javascript list which will have only numeric keys, which takes less memory?
var array = [];
array[0] = 'hello';
array[5] = 'world';
array[50] = 'foobar';
var obj = {};
obj[0] = 'hello';
obj[5] = 'world';
obj[50] = 'foobar';
I don't know a ton about Javascript engine internals, so...
The reason I ask is because that array, when converted to a string, will have a bunch of undefined's in the middle of it. Are those actually stored in some fashion, or is that just put in at string conversion?
An array is basically an ordered set of values associated with a single variable name.
In your example I think you try to do an associative array, and you should use object, Array is not meant to be used for key/value pairs.
Also the array length is indirecly increased when you assign a value to an index with higher length of the current array length:
var array = new Array();
array[99] = "Test";
// array.length is now 100
Check this detailed article on the subject.
Probably the Javascript array because you can 'only' use numeric key values, where as the object literals provide a space for key values, and even if you use numerical key values, they are probably handled differently than the numerical key values for arrays.
Most likely the reason arrays can't have text-based key values are because they are treated differently than object literals. I'm guessing that because they are probably treated differently, the processing for the array probably is more optimized for numeric key values, were as a object literal is optimized to use strings or numbers as their keys.
JavaScript doesn't implement arrays like other languages so you don't get any performance enhancements inherent of a normal array (memory-wise); in JavaScript an array is very similar to an object; actually, it is essentially an object just with a few extra methods and capabilities (such as a length that updates itself). I'd say neither is quicker.