Combine several dictionary values under a single dictionary key in JavaScript

Question

Combine several dictionary values under a single dictionary key in JavaScript

I have a unique dictionary structure displayed below. My goal is to populate it with values in a specific way. It all begins here

var animals = {
        flying : {},
        underground : {},
        aquatic : {},
        desert : {}
    };

To illustrate this process: Let's say I want to insert

d = {dove : [<some list>] }

into animal[flying], how would that be accomplished? Since manually entering the values isn't an option and I'm using a loop, I can enter them manually but not programmatically.

I attempted animals[flying] = d, which worked initially, but when trying to add another value, it replaces rather than appends.

In the end, my desired outcome is something like this: This is what we aim for

var animals = {
        flying : {
            dove : [<list>],
            sparrow : [<list>],

        },
        underground : {
            rabbits : [<list>],
            squirrel : [Squirrel],

        },
        aquatic : {
            dolphin : [<list>],
            whale : [Squirrel],

        },
        desert : {
            camel : [<list>],
            antelope : [<list>],

        },
    };

javascript json dictionary

Answer 1

Answer №1

Because...

myDict[subcat] = x

This code assigns a value to a key in a dictionary. However, if you want to append the variable to an array instead of overwriting it, you need to use the push method (keep in mind this is not Python - arrays are called Arrays and dictionaries are Objects). To achieve this, initialize an empty array for each key in the dictionary as shown below:

myDict = {
    subCat: [],
}

Then, during the loop, push the variable into the array like this:

myDict[subCat].push(x)

Answer 2

Because...

myDict[subcat] = x

This code assigns a value to a key in a dictionary. However, if you want to append the variable to an array instead of overwriting it, you need to use the push method (keep in mind this is not Python - arrays are called Arrays and dictionaries are Objects). To achieve this, initialize an empty array for each key in the dictionary as shown below:

myDict = {
    subCat: [],
}

Then, during the loop, push the variable into the array like this:

myDict[subCat].push(x)

Answer 3

Answer №2

One possible solution could be:

animalTypes["flying"] = Object.assign(animalTypes["flying"], data);

For example:

animalTypes = {
    flying: {}
}

data = { eagle: [3, 4, 5] }
Object.assign(animalTypes["flying"], data);
data = { hawk: [6, 7, 8] }
Object.assign(animalTypes["flying"], data);
console.log(animalTypes); //{"flying":{"eagle":[3,4,5],"hawk":[6,7,8]}}

Answer 4

One possible solution could be:

animalTypes["flying"] = Object.assign(animalTypes["flying"], data);

For example:

animalTypes = {
    flying: {}
}

data = { eagle: [3, 4, 5] }
Object.assign(animalTypes["flying"], data);
data = { hawk: [6, 7, 8] }
Object.assign(animalTypes["flying"], data);
console.log(animalTypes); //{"flying":{"eagle":[3,4,5],"hawk":[6,7,8]}}

Answer 5

Answer №3

let newestAnimal = {species: 'parrot'};    
if(birds['flying']['parakeet'] && birds['flying']['parakeet'].length > 0) {
   //List already exists so insert the newest animal
   //TODO also verify if the animal is already in the list?
   birds['flying']['parakeet'].push(newestAnimal);
}else {
   //Create a fresh list
   birds['flying']['parakeet'] = [newestAnimal];
}

Answer 6

let newestAnimal = {species: 'parrot'};    
if(birds['flying']['parakeet'] && birds['flying']['parakeet'].length > 0) {
   //List already exists so insert the newest animal
   //TODO also verify if the animal is already in the list?
   birds['flying']['parakeet'].push(newestAnimal);
}else {
   //Create a fresh list
   birds['flying']['parakeet'] = [newestAnimal];
}

Combine several dictionary values under a single dictionary key in JavaScript

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

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