Cannot access keys inside Object

Question

I'm trying to access the value of a key inside a Javascript object. My object currently looks like:

const options = {
  "account.country": getCountry,
  "account.phone": getPhone,
}

When I console.log(options), it shows the whole object. But, when I try

console.log(options.account) // undefined, 
console.log(options.account.country) // error.

I don't understand why. I also tried:

 const parsedObj = JSON.parse(options);
 console.log(parsedObj);

But it just returns

'Unexpected token o in JSON at position 1'

Possible duplicate of [How to get JSON objects value if its name contains dots?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2577172/how-to-get-json-objects-value-if-its-name-contains-dots) and [How to access object properties containing special characters?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12953704) — adiga, May 20 '19 at 13:23
The key is "account.country".. you'll have to use bracket notation. `options['account.country']`. As for `JSON.parse`... that's for parsing JSON strings. If you want to turn a JS object into JSON use `JSON.stringify()` — , May 20 '19 at 13:23
JSON.parse(options) is not needed. options is allready object. If you wish to parse options must be string, options = '...' — MRsa, May 20 '19 at 13:24

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered May 20 '19 at 13:22

0

You should use Bracket Notation when you want to access the property from a string.

const options = {
  "account.country": 'getCountry',
  "account.phone": 'getPhone',
}
console.log(options['account.country'])

answered May 20 '19 at 13:22

Maheer Ali

Quentin · Answer 2 · 2019-05-20T16:47:10.933

0

When I console.log 'options', it shows the whole object

Because it is an object

when I console.log options.account it returns undefined

Because there is no account property.

Only account.country and account.phone. So you have to access properties with those explicit names, like this:

console.log(options['account.country']);

But it just returns 'Unexpected token o in JSON at position 1'

It's an object, not a string of JSON.

edited May 20 '19 at 16:47

answered May 20 '19 at 13:22

Quentin

2

This answer doesn't do anything to help the user understand the concepts he clearly doesn't. – May 20 '19 at 13:26
1

@Jhawins — It clearly explains why the existing attempts fail, and demonstrates the modification needed to fix the problem. – Quentin May 20 '19 at 13:33

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited May 20 '19 at 14:46

0

const options = {
  "account.country": 'getCountry',
  "account.phone": 'getPhone',
}

You can access the desired value using options['account.country']

edited May 20 '19 at 14:46

James Coyle

answered May 20 '19 at 13:23

Joseph

Aks · Answer 4 · 2019-05-20T13:37:08.520

0

let options = {
  "account.country": "getCountry",
  "account.phone": "getPhone"
}
console.log(options["account.country"])

edited May 20 '19 at 13:37

answered May 20 '19 at 13:24

Aks

It would've been more helpful to show how to build a proper object (as that was the OP intent) – Miroslav Glamuzina May 20 '19 at 16:41

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered May 20 '19 at 13:27

The . in object key name is causing this issue. When you do:

options.account it returns undefined

^ that is because there is no key with name account

when I console log 'options.account.country' it errors

^ that is because it tries to look for key country on undefined (options.account)

You can solve this by using array indexing syntax as follow:

options['account.country']

options['account.phone']

5 Answers5