Q: JScript associative array

[bubbabubbs]

Platform: Win2K/SP4

I am trying to use an associative array in JScript, but I am seeing
something weird. Example:

ArrayTest();

///////////////////////////////////////////////////
function ArrayTest()
{
var oArray = new Array( 0 );
dumpArrayKeys( oArray );

++oArray.length;
oArray["first"] = 0;
dumpArrayKeys( oArray );

++oArray.length;
oArray["second"] = 1;
dumpArrayKeys( oArray );
}
///////////////////////////////////////////////////
function dumpArrayKeys( oArray )
{
oLog.Log( "arrayLen: " + oArray.length );
for( var key in oArray )
{
oLog.Log( "key: " + key );
}
Log( "-----------------------------" );
}
///////////////////////////////////////////////////

The output I'm seeing:

arrayLen: 0
key: getKey
-----------------------------
arrayLen: 1
key: getKey
key: first
-----------------------------
arrayLen: 2
key: getKey
key: first
key: second
-----------------------------

I don't understand where the key value "getKey" is coming from or
what it represents. Notice that the key is there as soon as the Array
has been created, and it never goes away.

Thoughts?

[Douglas Crockford]

> I am trying to use an associative array in JScript, but I am seeing

something weird.

We see stuff like this all the time. In JavaScript, do not use an array
when you should be using an object. The rule is really simple:

If the subscripts are small integers, use an array.
Otherwise, use an object.

See http://www.crockford.com/javascript/survey.html

[Steve van Dongen [MSFT]]

On 25 Jan 2005 18:19:14 -0800, bu********@yahoo.com wrote:

Platform: Win2K/SP4

I am trying to use an associative array in JScript, but I am seeing
something weird. Example:

ArrayTest();

///////////////////////////////////////////////////
function ArrayTest()
{
var oArray = new Array( 0 );
dumpArrayKeys( oArray );

++oArray.length;
oArray["first"] = 0;
dumpArrayKeys( oArray );

++oArray.length;
oArray["second"] = 1;
dumpArrayKeys( oArray );
}
///////////////////////////////////////////////////
function dumpArrayKeys( oArray )
{
oLog.Log( "arrayLen: " + oArray.length );
for( var key in oArray )
{
oLog.Log( "key: " + key );
}
Log( "-----------------------------" );
}
///////////////////////////////////////////////////

The output I'm seeing:

arrayLen: 0
key: getKey
-----------------------------
arrayLen: 1
key: getKey
key: first
-----------------------------
arrayLen: 2
key: getKey
key: first
key: second
-----------------------------

I don't understand where the key value "getKey" is coming from or
what it represents. Notice that the key is there as soon as the Array
has been created, and it never goes away.

Thoughts?

That code (once the errors are fixed) doesn't result in that output.
You've probably got more code that you didn't post where you added a
getKey method to the Array prototype, e.g.
Array.prototype.getKey = something;

Regards,
Steve
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