JavaScript - How to dynamically add to a nested object array

Question

I am trying to make a messenger bot that can create buttons based on a number I enter. The code looks like this:

let messageData = {
    "attachment": {
        "type": "template",
        "payload": {
            "template_type": "button",
            "text": text[1],
            "buttons":[]
        }
    }
}

The part that says "buttons":[] is where I want to add buttons (inside the []) according to this format:

{
   "type":"postback",
   "title":"button" + i //where i is the button number,
   "payload":"button" + i
}

How would I go about doing this?

messageData.attachment.payload.buttons.push(obj) where obj is the JSON. — A. L, Jan 23 '17 at 05:28
Sorry if this sound "noobish", but how would I create the JSON? — ik_Styx, Jan 23 '17 at 05:35
written an explanation that you should probably read so you get a better understanding of what JSON are. (basically dictionaries in any other language). — A. L, Jan 23 '17 at 05:42

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 23 '17 at 05:40

For your example you can do this:

messageData.attachment.payload.buttons.push(obj)

the . accesses the object's key, which can also be done this way messageData['attachment'] The difference between

messageData.attachment

and

messageData['attachment']

is that the second one can take a variable instead of a string, e.g.

var use_key = 'attachment';
messageData[use_key];

will access the same as the other two above.

JSON is just short for JavaScript Object Notation. And you make it exactly like your second example:

{
   "type":"postback",
   "title":"button" + i //where i is the button number,
   "payload":"button" + i
}

You can assign it to a variable to pass it into the push, or just exactly as it is. Not much different from a string or number. Don't let all the extra information scare you.

JavaScript - How to dynamically add to a nested object array

1 Answers1