JavaScript - remove value from associative array

Use object property accessors (since associative arrays are objects) combined with splice() method.

Practical examples

1. When you know the index of the element you want to remove:

// ONLINE-RUNNER:browser;

var associativeArray = { items: ['item1', 'item2'] };

associativeArray.items.splice(1, 1);

console.log(JSON.stringify(associativeArray)); // { items: [ 'item1' ] }

2. When you don't know the index of the element you want to remove:

// ONLINE-RUNNER:browser;

function removeElement(object, property, element) {
    var index = object[property].indexOf(element);
    if (index === -1) return;
    return object[property].splice(index, 1);
}


// Usage example:

var associativeArray = { items: ['item1', 'item2'] };

removeElement(associativeArray, 'items', 'item2'); // removes 'item2' from 'items' inside associativeArray object

console.log(JSON.stringify(associativeArray)); // { items: [ 'item1' ] }

Note:

The solution above is a simple reusable function that will work for any associative arrays (for non-nested objects).

See also

1. JavaScript - remove object from associative array

2. JavaScript - remove array element based on object property

References

1. Property accessors - JavaScript | MDN
2. Array.prototype.slice() - JavaScript | MDN