How to access a String key in a javascript array of objects?

Question

For example, the array is:

chipsArray = [{'cheetos':'good'},{'dorritos':'better'}]

Here, chipsArray[0] would give me {'cheetos':'good'}. Let's say I populated this array like the following:

chipsArray.push({[chips]:quality})

But now that I'm trying to access the cheetos or dorritos keys in each of objects in this array, I can't. Doing chipsArray[0].chips gives me undefined.

As far as I know when populating the key of an object with a certain value/variable, they should be wrapped in square braces. But how can we extract values from them later on when each of these objects are array indices like the example given above? I tried using Object.keys(chipsArray[index]), but this only gives me the keys whereas I'm trying to extract the specific value for that specific key.

Tl;Dr: How to extract the key of an object inside an array when the keys are strings like this:

chipsArray = [{'cheetos':'good'},{'dorritos':'better'}]

Nina Scholz · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-06 12:05:22Z

1

You could use Object.keys and get only the first element.

var chipsArray = [{ cheetos: 'good' }, { dorritos: 'better' }];

chipsArray.forEach(function (object) {
    var key = Object.keys(object)[0];
    console.log(key, object[key]);
});

Or create an object with the reference to the single objects

var chipsArray = [{ cheetos: 'good' }, { dorritos: 'better' }],
    hash = Object.create(null);

chipsArray.forEach(function (object) {
    hash[Object.keys(object)[0]] = object;
});

console.log(hash['dorritos']['dorritos']);

edited Mar 6, 2017 at 12:05

answered Mar 6, 2017 at 11:56

Nina Scholz

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2 Comments

complexSandwich Over a year ago

Thanks for your suggestion but I mentioned in my question that I tried this way. I don't want the key/keys only. I want the value for a certain key that I need to access. For example: I want to pass the key 'dorritos' to get the value 'better'. I am unable to access it if I do an Object.keys

Kaddath Over a year ago

@BobSilas i think this answer silently implies that when you have the key back, it is fairly easy to get the value (just access to the array with your retreived key)

Ararat Harutyunyan · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-06 12:09:17Z

0

Use the following function. It returns the value by key in the array

function getItemByKey (key, array) {
    var value;
    array.some(function (obj) {
        if (obj[key]) {
            value = obj[key];
            return true;
        }
        return false;
    });
    return value;
}

More about Array.prototype.some here

edited Mar 6, 2017 at 12:09

answered Mar 6, 2017 at 12:00

Ararat Harutyunyan

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Comments

Bidisha Pyne · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-06 12:36:16Z

0

I think the easiest way is to access the value:

Object.values(chipsArray[i])

where i is the index of the array.

Output:

> chipsArray = [{'cheetos':'good'},{'dorritos':'better'}]
[ { cheetos: 'good' }, { dorritos: 'better' } ]
> Object.values(chipsArray[0])
[ 'good' ]

edited Mar 6, 2017 at 12:36

answered Mar 6, 2017 at 12:07

Bidisha Pyne

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2 Comments

complexSandwich Over a year ago

this doesn't work for some reason. Object.keys works just fine but Object.values throws error.

Bidisha Pyne Over a year ago

It should. I have included the output also.

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