# Missing key understanding about arrays

**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/missing-key-understanding-about-arrays/302012
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [December 19, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/missing-key-understanding-about-arrays/302012 "2009-12-19T16:00:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![oldgreymare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@oldgreymare](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/oldgreymare)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/missing-key-understanding-about-arrays/302012/1 "2009-12-19T16:00:07Z")

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Hi there

I feel dense. I’ve been using arrays and for loops in flash for some time now. Mostly successfully. But I’m missing some important understanding of how they really work. Here’s the simple code that turns my head around and makes me realize I know nothing.

```auto
//_root.termLoadVars.numberTerms = 13 from an external doc

for(i=1;i<_root.termLoadVars.numberTerms+1;i++){
	_root.term_array.push(_root.termLoadVars["term"+i])
	
};

```

When I trace \_root.term\_array later in the code, it gives me the list of words and then a ton of 'undefined’s. When I trace \_root.term\_array.length it says it’s got 130 items. In my mind it should only have 13. What am I missing?

Please straighten out my bent brain.