Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

JavaScript JavaScript Loops, Arrays and Objects Tracking Multiple Items with Arrays Two-Dimensional Arrays

Posted by Edward Ulick
Edward Ulick
2,756 Points

Array literal

What is an "array literal," mentioned at 4:36 in the video?

2 Answers

alastair cooper
alastair cooper
30,617 Points
alastair cooper
alastair cooper
30,617 Points

An array literal is an array that is declared in your code, as opposed to being created dynamically when your code runs.

ie I could declare var arr = ['value1' , 'value2' , 'value3']

This is an array literal.

You will see the same thing with objects

ie

var obj = { name: 'myName' }

however, the statement ...

var obj = new OBJECT('myName')

creates the object in memory dynamically when the code is run, instead of me 'literally' declaring it in my code.

Hope this helps

Alastair

Edward Ulick
Edward Ulick
2,756 Points

Thanks Alastair!

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

It's just an array that is contained in your code. Here's an example of assigning a variable using an array literal:

var myArray = [ "one", "two", "three" ];  // this array has 3 strings
Edward Ulick
Edward Ulick
2,756 Points

Thanks Steven!