Elixir
Elixir Basics - 5. Maps
Updated:
Maps in Elixir are the primary data structure for key/value pairs. Unlike a keyword list, they allow keys of any time and are un-ordered. Maps can be created like so:
iex(3)> map = %{"Hello" => :world, :foo => 3.14}
%{:foo => 3.14, "Hello" => :world}
Accessing Values
The values within a map can be accessed like so:
iex(3)> map = %{"Hello" => :world, :foo => 3.14}
%{:foo => 3.14, "Hello" => :world}
iex(4)> map["Hello"]
:world
iex(5)> map[:foo]
3.14
Variables as Keys
Since Elixir 1.2, variables can also be used as keys in maps.
iex(7)> key = "Hello"
"Hello"
iex(8)> %{key => :world}
%{"Hello" => :world}
Atoms as Keys
If the keys in a map are atoms, Elixir allows for a special syntax.
iex(10)> %{hello: "World", foo: "bar"}
%{foo: "bar", hello: "World"}
You can also access their values using the dot . syntax.
iex(11)> map = %{hello: "World", foo: "bar"}
%{foo: "bar", hello: "World"}
iex(12)> map.foo
"bar"
iex(13)> map.hello
"World"
Updating Maps
If you want to update the value of a key, you can use the following syntax.
iex(21)> map = %{hello: "World", foo: "bar"}
%{foo: "bar", hello: "World"}
iex(22)> %{map | hello: 3.14}
%{foo: "bar", hello: 3.14}
Remember, this will create a new map as data structures in Elixir are immutable.
iex(21)> map = %{hello: "World", foo: "bar"}
%{foo: "bar", hello: "World"}
iex(22)> %{map | hello: 3.14}
%{foo: "bar", hello: 3.14}
iex(23)> map
%{foo: "bar", hello: "World"} # the original map has not changed
Adding new keys
You can add a new key/value pair to an existing map by using the Map.put/3 function.
iex(25)> map = %{hello: "World", foo: "bar"}
%{foo: "bar", hello: "World"}
iex(26)> Map.put(map, :pi, 3.14)
%{foo: "bar", hello: "World", pi: 3.14}