Creating tables
A table is a container that stores values under keys, and it is the only data structure Lua has.
In this page:
Creating tables
Tables are created with curly braces and can hold any value except nil as a key. The same table can mix positional items and named fields. Tables are objects, so assigning a table to another variable shares it instead of copying it.
Note:
Because tables are Lua's only structure, arrays, records, sets and modules are all just tables.
Example: Creating tables
local t = {10, 20, name = "box", [3.5] = "float key"}
print(t[1], t[2], t.name, t[3.5])
print(t.missing)
local alias = t
alias.name = "renamed"
print(t.name)
print(type(t), #{})
-- Output:
-- 10 20 box float key
-- nil
-- renamed
-- table 0Login to try C/C++/Java/PHP code in the editor
Common Mistakes
- Expecting a table variable to hold a copy when assigned
- Using nil as a key
- Confusing the constructor {} with a block
Chapter Summary
- Tables are made with {}
- Any value except nil can be a key
- One table can mix arrays and fields
- Assignment copies the reference
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