How do I use struct as an alternative to maps?

Question

I read "An introduction to programming in GO" by Caleb Doxsey. In chapter 6 he had the following example:

package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    elements := map[string]map[string]string{
        "H": map[string]string{
            "name":  "Hydrogen",
            "state": "gas",
        },
        "He": map[string]string{
            "name":  "Helium",
            "state": "gas",
        },
        "Li": map[string]string{
            "name":  "Lithium",
            "state": "solid",
        },
        "Be": map[string]string{
            "name":  "Beryllium",
            "state": "solid",
        },
        "B": map[string]string{
            "name":  "Boron",
            "state": "solid",
        },
        "C": map[string]string{
            "name":  "Carbon",
            "state": "solid",
        },
        "N": map[string]string{
            "name":  "Nitrogen",
            "state": "gas",
        },
        "O": map[string]string{
            "name":  "Oxygen",
            "state": "gas",
        },
        "F": map[string]string{
            "name":  "Fluorine",
            "state": "gas",
        },
        "Ne": map[string]string{
            "name":  "Neon",
            "state": "gas",
        },
    }

    if el, ok := elements["Li"]; ok {
        fmt.Println(el["name"], el["state"])
    }
}

He commented the example that "although maps are often used like this, in chapter 9 we will see a better way to store structured information." Chapter 9 is about Structs and Interfaces.

What does a better way to store structured information with structs and interfaces look like for the example above?

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

type element struct {
    name  string
    state string
}

func main() {
    elements := map[string]element{
        "H":  {"Hydrogen", "gas"},
        "He": {"Helium", "gas"},
        "Li": {"Lithium", "solid"},
        "Be": {"Beryllium", "solid"},
        "B":  {"Boron", "solid"},
        "C":  {"Carbon", "solid"},
        "N":  {"Nitrogen", "gas"},
        "O":  {"Oxygen", "gas"},
        "F":  {"Fluorine", "gas"},
        "Ne": {"Neon", "gas"},
    }
    if el, ok := elements["Li"]; ok {
        fmt.Println(el.name, el.state)
    }
}

http://play.golang.org/p/vIbA5Qs7SD

Answer 2

For example,

package main

import "fmt"

type Element struct {
    Symbol, Name, State string
}

func main() {

    elements := []Element{
        {"H", "Hydrogen", "gas"},
        {"He", "Helium", "gas"},
        {"Li", "Lithium", "solid"},
    }
    symbols := make(map[string]*Element)
    for i := range elements {
        symbols[elements[i].Symbol] = &elements[i]
    }
    if el, ok := symbols["Li"]; ok {
        fmt.Println(el.Symbol, el.Name, el.State)
    }
}

Output:

Li Lithium solid