# Array length, when index is string-based

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/array-length-when-index-is-string-based/250676>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [January 31, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/array-length-when-index-is-string-based/250676 "2008-01-31T16:37:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ayman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Ayman](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Ayman)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/array-length-when-index-is-string-based/250676/1 "2008-01-31T16:37:13Z")

</div>

Hi everyone

just a simple example:

var a = new Array()  
a[“apple”] = “red”  
a[“orange”] = “orange”  
a[“banana”] = “yellow”

trace(a.length) //returns 0

Why on earth does that happen? Anyone knows a way to get it work?

I should try something with for(var item in a)