`JSON.stringify` omits custom keys in array

Question

I am storing my array as a mixture of array an array and an object. For example assume this one:

let arrObj = [];
arrObj["x"] = 12;
arrObj.push(12);
arrObj["y"] = 15;
arrObj.push(15);

// result: arrObj = [12, 15, x: 12, y: 15]

so that, I can access the value 12 even using arrObj[0] and arrObj["x"]. And this way, I can do a repeat for on it.

But when I stringify it, the keys x and y get lost:

JSON.stringify(arrObj)
// result: "[12,15]"

How should I maintain those keys and their values?

Answer 1

While stringifying convert it to an object using spread syntax and later parse and use Array#reduce method to generate the array.

The array keeps the property since Array is also an object in Javascript.

let arrObj = [];
arrObj["x"] = 12;
arrObj.push(12);
arrObj["y"] = 15;
arrObj.push(15);

let json = JSON.stringify({ ...arrObj });

console.log(json);

let parsed = Object.entries(JSON.parse(json)).reduce((arr, [key, value]) => (arr[key] = value, arr), []);

console.log(parsed);

FYI : But it always better to use an Object or Map for key-value pair data, not better that's the right way in my opinion.

---

UPDATE 1: Or you can use a main object which keeps all additional property and within it create a property which keeps the array as well.

let arrObj = {
  arr: []
};
arrObj["x"] = 12;
arrObj.arr.push(12);
arrObj["y"] = 15;
arrObj.arr.push(15);

let json = JSON.stringify(arrObj);

console.log(json);

let parsed = JSON.parse(json);

console.log(parsed);

---

UPDATE 2: The second approach cause issue if you are trying to set property named arr(in my case) so keep object values in separate property.

let arrObj = {
  arr: [],
  obj: {}
};
arrObj.obj["x"] = 12;
arrObj.arr.push(12);
arrObj.obj["y"] = 15;
arrObj.arr.push(15);

let json = JSON.stringify(arrObj);

console.log(json);

let parsed = JSON.parse(json);

console.log(parsed);