Map & Set essentials
Use Map for key→value lookups and Set for unique values; iterate, convert, and apply tiny patterns.
Map & Set essentials is a free JavaScript Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 1 of 3. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the JavaScript Academy learning path, one of 3 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Why Map & Set?
Goal: Pick the right container.
- Map: key→value (any type of key)
- Set: unique values
- Iterate and convert
- Tiny everyday patterns
Map: set/get/has
Map offers set, get, has, delete, clear, and a size property.
// Map: key→value with any key type
const userToScore = new Map();
// set values
userToScore.set("ayla", 10);
userToScore.set("mina", 15);
// read values
console.log("ayla:", userToScore.get("ayla"));
console.log("has lena?", userToScore.has("lena"));
// size
console.log("size:", userToScore.size);
Set: unique values
Set keeps only one copy of each value; duplicates are ignored.
// Set: unique values
const seen = new Set();
// add values (duplicates are ignored)
seen.add("red");
seen.add("blue");
seen.add("red"); // ignored
console.log("size:", seen.size);
console.log("has red?", seen.has("red"));
seen.delete("blue");
console.log("after delete:", seen.size);
Why Map over Object
Map preserves object identity as keys. Plain objects coerce keys to strings.
// Map can use objects as keys directly
const key1 = { id: 1 };
const key2 = { id: 1 }; // different reference
const map = new Map();
map.set(key1, "A");
console.log("get key1:", map.get(key1));
console.log("get key2:", map.get(key2)); // undefined (different object)
const obj = {};
obj[key1] = "B"; // coerces key to "[object Object]"
console.log("object key:", obj["[object Object]"]);
Conversions
Create unique arrays from a Set. Build a Map from pairs and back with entries().
// Unique array values via Set
const nums = [2, 2, 3, 4, 3];
const unique = Array.from(new Set(nums));
console.log("unique:", unique);
// Map from pairs; back to pairs
const pairs = [["a", 1], ["b", 2]];
const m = new Map(pairs);
console.log("get a:", m.get("a"));
console.log("entries:", Array.from(m.entries()));
Patterns to remember
Tiny patterns:
- Use Map for counts (key → number).
- Use Set for quick membership checks.
- Prefer Map when keys are not strings or when you need insertion order.
Set uniqueness quiz
Quick check: Uniqueness.
Recap
Recap: Choose Map for key→value lookups (any key type) and Set for unique values; iterate and convert with entries()/Array.from.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Map & Set essentials” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Map & Set essentials” is free to read here on the web, and the JavaScript Academy course includes 3 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the JavaScript Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Map & Set essentials”?
Use Map for key→value lookups and Set for unique values; iterate, convert, and apply tiny patterns. You practise JavaScript Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start JavaScript Academy?
No prior experience is required. JavaScript Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 1 of 3, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Map & Set essentials” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this JavaScript Academy lesson?
Yes. Every JavaScript Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Map & Set essentials
- WeakMap & WeakSet — simple privacy and caches
- Iteration Patterns