Javascript: Using integer as key in associative array?

Question

When I create a new javascript array, and use an integer as a key, each element of that array up to the integer is created as undefined. for example:

var test = new Array();
test[2300] = 'Some string';
console.log(test);

will output 2298 undefined's and one 'Some string'.

How should I get javascript to use 2300 as a string instead of an integer, or how should I keep it from instanciating 2299 empty indices?

Answer 1

You can just use an object:

var test = {}
test[2300] = 'Some string';

Answer 2

Try using an Object, not an Array:

var test = new Object(); test[2300] = 'Some string';

Answer 3

Use an object instead of an array. Arrays in JavaScript are not associative arrays. They are objects with magic associated with any properties whose names look like integers. That magic is not what you want if you're not using them as a traditional array-like structure.

var test = {};
test[2300] = 'some string';
console.log(test);

Answer 4

Use an object - with an integer as the key - rather than an array.

Answer 5

Use an object, as people are saying. However, note that you can not have integer keys. JavaScript will convert the integer to a string. The following outputs 20, not undefined:

var test = {}
test[2300] = 20;
console.log(test["2300"]);