An associative array, also known as a map, dictionary, symbol table, or hash table, is an abstract data type used in computer science. It organizes data into pairs of keys and values, where each key is unique within the array, and each key is associated with exactly one value[2][4][6][7]. This data structure allows for efficient data retrieval by using keys, similar to looking up a word in a dictionary to find its definition.
Associative arrays can be implemented in various programming languages either as a built-in feature or through libraries. They are particularly useful for operations such as lookup, insert, and delete. The keys in an associative array can be of any hashable type—meaning the type of the keys allows for a unique hash representation. The values can be of any type[2][4].
In programming, associative arrays provide a flexible way to access data elements without needing a strict linear index order, as seen in traditional arrays. Instead, they use a model where data elements are indexed by keys, which can be made from strings, num...
