Convert a javascript associative array into json object using stringify and vice versa

Question

I have a javascript associative array like one below

 var my_cars= new Array()
 my_cars[\"cool\"]=\"Mustang\";
 my_cars[\"family\"]=\"Station Wagon\";
 my_ca         


        

Answer 1

Moving my comment into an answer so I can show you a code example.

These types of array are no-no's in javascript. You should ONLY use an object for non-numeric keys like this. Array indexes should be numbers. Javascript objects can use arbitrary values for keys (like in your example). Arrays happen to "appear" to work because Arrays themselves are objects, but you will not find normal Array methods will work on them. For example, look at this code example.

var my_cars= new Array()
my_cars["cool"]="Mustang";
my_cars["family"]="Station Wagon";
my_cars["big"]="SUV";
alert(my_cars.length);  // alerts 0

You have only added properties to the underlying object, not actually added elements to the Array. You should use an Object for this, not an Array. Javascript does not actually have an Associative Array. It has an Object who's properties can often be used like one would use an Associate Array in other languages. But, it's an Object, not an Array.