JavaScript - short way of declaring an associative array

Question

Is there a short way of declaring an associative array like in PHP?

$myArray = array(\'a\' => \'b\'); // PHP Way

In JavaScript I\'d do i

Answer 1

In javascript, associative arrays, keyed collections, hashes, ... whatever you want to call them, are not a special type. All the following are good.

a = {}
a[3] = 15
a.b = "c"
a['def'] = 'something'

This code produces a single valid object with the properties you would expect. All of them. You can combine a conventionally indexed array and an associative array in one object.

As to declaring a whole bunch at once, the usual syntax is:

a = {
    'key1' : 'val1',
    'key2' : val2,
    key3 : val3,
    key4 : "val4"
}