Question

Using javascript, how can I add to an array an element which contains fields (pairs of field name and field value)?
The purpose of this is that each element will later be inserted as a row to a DB, using ajax.
Just to make sure – after the array is ready I should be able to access a field this way:

shopsArray[4].shopName

Edit:
It’s working with Pointy’s answer but I still have a problem:

shopsArray.push( { shopId: 1, shopAddress: $('#newAddress' + j).val() } );

The first value is inserted fine, but the second one has a problem.
If I alert $('#newAddress' + j).val() than I get the correct value which has been inserted in the field in the webpage.
But if I alert shopsArray[lastElementNumber].shopAddress than I get undefined.

Can you see what’s the problem here?

Edit 2:
More elaborate code:

// save changes in main shop
shopsArray[0].shopName = $('#mainName').val();
shopsArray[0].shopAddress = $('#mainAddress').val();

// save secondary branches to array
for (var i=1; i<shopsArray.length; i++){
    shopsArray[i].shopName = $('#secondaryName' + i).val();
    shopsArray[i].shopAddress = $('#secondaryAddress' + i).val();
}

// save new branches to array
for (var j=1; j<=newshopsCounter; j++){

    var bName = $('#newName' + j).val();

    shopsArray.push({shopId: -1, userId: shopsArray[0].userId, shopName: bName, shopAddress: $('#newAddress' + j).val()});

    alert(bName);
    alert(shopArray[1].shopName);
    alert(shopsArray[1].shopId);
}

The first and third alerts give the correct values. The second one gives undefined.

Answer 1

You mean something like

shopsArray.push({ shopName: "Fred", value: "Ethel" });

?

edit — now that I know that this is the sort of thing you want to do, I’ll clarify.

JavaScript has an “object literal” syntax that allows objects to be created directly as values. The syntax involves a list of property names and values, with the names and values separated by a colon and each pair separated by commas. Thus:

var anObject = { someProperty: "the value" };

creates an object with one property and assigns it to the variable “anObject”. That’s effectively the same as:

var temp = new Object();
temp["someProperty"] = "the value";
var anObject = temp;

The “value” part of a property in an object literal can be any expression, but the property name must be either a string constant or an identifier (and in either case, it’s treated like a string constant). Thus, you can create an object with a property whose value comes from calling some function:

var fancyObject = { "temperature": getTemperature() };

Object literal expressions are values, and can be used anywhere you can use an expression, including function call arguments. Therefore, to add an object to an array, it’s possible to call the array “.push()” function and use an object literal as the argument, as in the first example:

shopsArray.push({ shopName: "Cheese Shoppe", shopPhone: "111 222 3232" });

You can even include object literals inside another object literal, as the value of a property:

shopsArray.push({
  shopName: "Cheese Shoppe", 
  shopAddress: {
    street1: "207 High Street",
    street2: "No. 5",
    city: "Austin",
    state: "TX"
  }
});