Technically, JavaScript doesn’t support multi-dimensional arrays, but you can simulate a two-dimensional array by creating an array of arrays. This can be particularly useful if you want to create a matrix of images or other objects on the screen. To create an array of arrays, create the “inner” arrays first and then use them to populate the “outer” array. The following JavaScript example creates a 5×5 matrix of rows and columns, similar to a game board.
columns1 = new Array(5); columns2 = new Array(5); columns3 = new Array(5);columns4 = new Array(5);columns5 = new Array(5);rows = new Array(5);rows[0] = columns1;rows[1] = columns2;rows[2] = columns3;rows[3] = columns4;rows[4] = columns5;for (i=0; i < 5; i++) { columns1[i] = i; } // number the columns 1 through 5for (i=0; i < 5; i++) { columns2[i] = i + 5; } // number the next row of columns 6 through 10for (i=0; i < 5; i++) { columns3[i] = i + 10; } // and so onfor (i=0; i < 5; i++) { columns4[i] = i + 15; }for (i=0; i < 5; i++) { columns5[i] = i + 20; }
Now you can refer to any spot on the board by its x and y coordinates; rows[2][3] refers to spot number 14, three rows from the top and four from the left (because arrays begin numbering at zero).