keys

Returns a list of the element names in an array.

# Metadata

Platforms: desktop, server OS: mac, windows, linux Introduced: 1.0 Security:

# Syntax

the keys of arrayName

# Params

- arrayName : The name of a <variable>.

# Examples

the keys of myArray

repeat with thisItem = 1 to the number of lines in the keys of it

repeat for each line tKey in the keys of tArray put tArray[tKey] & return after tArrayContents end repeat

# Description

Use the keys function to manage the elements of an array, or to perform some action on each element in an array.

>*Note:* The order of the keys is not alphabetical or chronological; > it is based on the internal order. To obtain an alphabetical list of > keys, use the sort command:

put the keys of myArray into myVariable sort lines of myVariable

>*Note:* Arrays in LiveCode are associative (also known as hash > tables). This means that the keys of an array are strings which > LiveCode uses to "look up" the array elements rather than numeric > indices as in C, Pascal and other languages. Of course it is possible > to use numeric values for array keys, but LiveCode will internally > convert these into strings before retrieving the array elements.

# Tags

properties,

# See

- **property:** properties - **operator:** is among the keys of - **keyword:** line, element - **glossary:** command, variable, array - **function:** arrayEncode, transpose, extents, keys - **command:** combine, split, sort - **control structure:** function