best way to generate empty 2D array

Question

is there a shorter, better way to generate \'n\' length 2D array?

var a = (function(){ var i=9, arr=[]; while(i--) arr.push([]); return arr })();

a // [ [],         


        

Answer 1

Another way:

for(var a = [];a.length < 10; a.push([])); // semicolon is mandatory here

Yet another way:

var a = []; while(a.push([]) < 10);

This works because .push() [docs] (specification) returns the new length of the array.

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That said, this is the wrong way of "reducing code". Create a dedicated function with a meaningful name and use this one. Your code will be much more understandable:

function get2DArray(size) {
    size = size > 0 ? size : 0;
    var arr = [];

    while(size--) {
        arr.push([]);
    }

    return arr;
}

var a = get2DArray(9);

Code is read much more often than written.