Javascript objects are kinda like hash tables

If I make an object like this:

var myObj = {
   key1: "foo",
   key2: "bar",
   key3: function() { return "Hi."; }
};

I can access those properties like this:

var myKey = myObj.key1; // assigns myKey the value "foo"
var myFunction = myObj.key3 // assigns myFunction the function function() { return "Hi."; }

Or like this:

var myKey = myObj["key1"]; // assigns myKey the value "foo"
var myFunction = myObj["key3"] // assigns myFunction the function function() { return "Hi."; }

These two styles are logically equivalent. However, the dot notation is preferred according to most JS nerds.

I think the second style can, in some situations, be more convenient or clearer about what the code is doing. But your mileage may vary.

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