(Definition) What is the proper way to reference a variable inside another variable?

Question

(Definition) What is the proper way to reference a variable inside another variable?

Currently, my project is using inconsistent terminology when referring to variables, and I need to clarify this issue.

Let's take an object defined in this way:

var anObject = {
    a: {
        value1: 1337,
        value2: 69,
        value3: "420 man"
    }
}

I believe that a is a property of the object anObject. But within the context of anObject, how should we describe value1? Is it also considered a "property"?

The reason behind this question is that I am looking to create functions for accessing nested variables within objects. For example:

function getProperty(name) {
    // ...
}

var desiredValue = getProperty("a.value1");

If this inquiry is not suitable for Stack Overflow, please advise on where I can seek assistance. Thank you.

EDIT: My query is not about accessing the nested variable, but rather about the appropriate terminology to use when referring to it.

Given that value1 is a property of a which is a property of anObject, what would we call value1 in relation to anObject? Would it be a "property-property"? I hope this clarifies my question.

javascript terminology

Answer 1

Answer №1

Just like how x is an attribute of carObject, value2 is an attribute of x.

To access it, you can simply do:

carObject.x.value2

In a more detailed explanation, this can be broken down into the following code snippet:

const subObject = carObject.x;
const finalResult = subObject.value2;

It's important to understand that in JavaScript, an object is essentially a collection of key-value pairs, similar to a dictionary. Values can be any data type, including other objects, leading to nested structures - such as the one mentioned here.

For the specific function mentioned, all you have to do is split the input string using a designated separator character (like .) and recursively navigate through the object hierarchy until reaching the desired property.

There are already existing libraries on platforms like npm that offer functionality for handling nested keys, such as nested-keys or options within widely used libraries like Lodash. For example, with Lodash's get method:

var obj = { 'x': [{ 'y': { 'z': 5 } }] };

_.get(obj, 'x[0].y.z');
// => 5

_.get(obj, ['x', '0', 'y', 'z']);
// => 5

_.get(obj, 'x.y.z', 'default');
// => 'default'

(This sample code is from the official Lodash documentation for get.)

If you still prefer crafting your own solution, examining the implementation within libraries like Lodash can serve as a helpful reference point.

UPDATE

In reference to your updated query, there isn't a standardized term for this concept. It could be termed as a nested attribute or an attribute of a child object. Describing it straightforwardly as you initially did - where value2 is an attribute of an object which itself is a attribute of carObject - would be technically accurate, even if not the most elegant phrasing, given the absence of a definitive formal designation.

Answer 2

Just like how x is an attribute of carObject, value2 is an attribute of x.

To access it, you can simply do:

carObject.x.value2

In a more detailed explanation, this can be broken down into the following code snippet:

const subObject = carObject.x;
const finalResult = subObject.value2;

It's important to understand that in JavaScript, an object is essentially a collection of key-value pairs, similar to a dictionary. Values can be any data type, including other objects, leading to nested structures - such as the one mentioned here.

For the specific function mentioned, all you have to do is split the input string using a designated separator character (like .) and recursively navigate through the object hierarchy until reaching the desired property.

There are already existing libraries on platforms like npm that offer functionality for handling nested keys, such as nested-keys or options within widely used libraries like Lodash. For example, with Lodash's get method:

var obj = { 'x': [{ 'y': { 'z': 5 } }] };

_.get(obj, 'x[0].y.z');
// => 5

_.get(obj, ['x', '0', 'y', 'z']);
// => 5

_.get(obj, 'x.y.z', 'default');
// => 'default'

(This sample code is from the official Lodash documentation for get.)

If you still prefer crafting your own solution, examining the implementation within libraries like Lodash can serve as a helpful reference point.

UPDATE

In reference to your updated query, there isn't a standardized term for this concept. It could be termed as a nested attribute or an attribute of a child object. Describing it straightforwardly as you initially did - where value2 is an attribute of an object which itself is a attribute of carObject - would be technically accurate, even if not the most elegant phrasing, given the absence of a definitive formal designation.

(Definition) What is the proper way to reference a variable inside another variable?

Answer №1

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