I have an Array like the following, how would I sort it by the keys of the objects it contains?
var myArray = [
item : {
},
anotherItem : {
}
];
EDIT
myArray is an Object not an Array. Does that change anything?
2 Answers
In Javascript, arrays can only be declared with numeric keys and objects can be declared with alphanumeric keys (attributes).
It may help to take a look at Javascript's array sort() method.
However, although there is not a way to declare an array with non-numeric keys, as icktoofay has pointed out, since arrays are a special type of object, it is possible to set non-numeric keys for arrays after they have been declared.
5 Comments
icktoofay
As an array is an object, it actually can have non-numeric keys, but there is no special syntax for them as there is in plain object literals and it is not treated specially by the array.
Aiias
@icktoofay - Thanks for pointing out those details about arrays.
Natalie Rose
Sorry guys, see my edit.
Aiias
@TheVasari - Take a look at some related questions: stackoverflow.com/questions/5467129/… , stackoverflow.com/questions/2947822/javascript-sort-objects , and stackoverflow.com/questions/1069666/… .
Natalie Rose
@Aiias, thank you, that first link was exactly what I needed!
First of all, that syntax is invalid: there is no way to set a key in an array literal. Additionally, while it is possible, you probably do not want an array with non-numeric properties; arrays are designed to hold numeric properties.
Even if those were corrected, properties in an object have no defined iteration order:
The mechanics and order of enumerating the properties […] is not specified.
Sorting, by definition, affects the order; if there is no defined order in the first place, you cannot really change it.
myArray is an Object not an Array - does that change anything?I'm afraid it is neither and is simply invalid syntax. Trying to run your code as is in jsFiddle for example generatesUncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected token :You can see the error in the debugger's console log when running the fiddle.