尽管所有示例都能很好地工作，但它们却过于复杂：
- 他们使用
new Array()，对于简单的关联数组（AKA字典）来说，这是多余的（也是开销）。
- 更好的使用
new Object()。工作正常，但是为什么要进行所有这些额外的输入呢？
这个问题被标记为“初学者”，因此让我们简化一下。
在JavaScript中使用字典的超级简单方法，或者“为什么JavaScript没有特殊的字典对象？”：
// create an empty associative array (in JavaScript it is called ... Object)
var dict = {}; // huh? {} is a shortcut for "new Object()"
// add a key named fred with value 42
dict.fred = 42; // we can do that because "fred" is a constant
// and conforms to id rules
// add a key named 2bob2 with value "twins!"
dict["2bob2"] = "twins!"; // we use the subscript notation because
// the key is arbitrary (not id)
// add an arbitrary dynamic key with a dynamic value
var key = ..., // insanely complex calculations for the key
val = ...; // insanely complex calculations for the value
dict[key] = val;
// read value of "fred"
val = dict.fred;
// read value of 2bob2
val = dict["2bob2"];
// read value of our cool secret key
val = dict[key];
现在让我们更改值：
// change the value of fred
dict.fred = "astra";
// the assignment creates and/or replaces key-value pairs
// change value of 2bob2
dict["2bob2"] = [1, 2, 3]; // any legal value can be used
// change value of our secret key
dict[key] = undefined;
// contrary to popular beliefs assigning "undefined" does not remove the key
// go over all keys and values in our dictionary
for (key in dict) {
// for-in loop goes over all properties including inherited properties
// let's use only our own properties
if (dict.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
console.log("key = " + key + ", value = " + dict[key]);
}
}
删除值也很容易：
// let's delete fred
delete dict.fred;
// fred is removed, the rest is still intact
// let's delete 2bob2
delete dict["2bob2"];
// let's delete our secret key
delete dict[key];
// now dict is empty
// let's replace it, recreating all original data
dict = {
fred: 42,
"2bob2": "twins!"
// we can't add the original secret key because it was dynamic,
// we can only add static keys
// ...
// oh well
temp1: val
};
// let's rename temp1 into our secret key:
if (key != "temp1") {
dict[key] = dict.temp1; // copy the value
delete dict.temp1; // kill the old key
} else {
// do nothing, we are good ;-)
}