Array Length returns 0

Question

Could anyone help explain why length is returning 0? Thank you VERY much in advance!

var errors = [];
errors[''] = "Monday Morning slot already taken. Would you like to replace it?";
console.log(errors);
document.write(errors.length);

Answer 1

Only numeric indices affect the .length of an Array.

Other named properties are allowed, but they aren't the typical use for an Array object. By using "", you're creating a non-numeric property on the object. You can access it like this:

errors[""];

But you can't get to it with the typical Array methods.

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For named properties, you'd typically use an Object instead. Either way, you can get a count of the number of own, enumerable properties (including numeric indices) by using Object.keys().

Object.keys(errors).length;

Answer 2

Because that is not how you add an item since Arrays only accept numeric keys. You do it like this:

errors.push("blah");  /*or*/  errors[0] = "blah";

//Now if you check the length:
errors.length;  //1

Also, if you are using it as an Object, '' isn't a valid name either.

*Correction: Looks like you can use "" (empty string) as a key.