Defining JavaScript Arrays Using Literal Notation - Putting It to the Test

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The thing about defining multi-dimensional arrays using the standard syntax is that we are often the ones taken into the next dimension before the process is over. Or is it just me? At any rate, literal notation simplifies things for everyone, as it supports nesting of other literal notation. This makes defining multi-dimensional arrays extremely easy and intuitive. The following example uses literal notation to define an array with 3 elements, the 1st element being a 2 dimensional array:

var myarray=[["New York", "LA", "Seattle"], China, Japan]

Yes, it's that easy. By merely using another literal notation as one of the array values, we add a 2nd dimension to that particular element. Let's go to "LA" shall we:

myarray[0][1] //returns "LA"

Just to demonstrate literal notations' versatility in this respect, here's an array with its 1st element in turn being a 3 dimensional array:

var myarray=[[[2,4,6]], China, Japan]

Just remember, the more brackets you use, the deeper the hole you dig! To conclude this tutorial, here are two example scripts that use literal notation to greatly compact the code otherwise required using conventional array:

1. JavaScript Graph It
2. NosTree

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