Month Array in JavaScript Not Pretty

Question

How can i make it nicer?

var month = new Array();

month['01']='Jan';
month['02']='Feb';
month['03']='Mar';

etc. Itd be nice to do it like:

var months = new Array(['01','Jan'],['02','Feb'],['03','Mar']);

For example. anyway like that to simplify it?

Answer 1

this should do it ..

var months = {'01':'Jan', '02':'Feb'};
alert( months['01'] );

Answer 2

Don't use an Array unless you're using real numeric indexes. Try this:

var month = {
    '01': 'Jan',
    '02': 'Feb',
    // ...
    '12': 'Dec'
};

Personally, though, I would wrap this kind of logic in a function:

var monthNames = ['Jan', 'Feb', /* ... */ 'Dec'];
function getMonthName(n) {
    return monthNames(n - 1);
}

alert(getMonthName(1)); // 'Jan'

That way, you never have to think about the underlying data structure, or worry about changing it later.

Answer 3

why not:

var month = [
  'Jan', 
  'Feb', 
  // ...
  'Dec'];

To get the month name from the number you'd do something like:

var monthNum = 2; // February
var monthShortName = month[monthNum-1];