What are some common use cases for associative arrays?

What are some common use cases for associative arrays?

Associative arrays are often used for storing key-value pairs, like user profiles or configuration settings.

Can you give me an example of how they are used in programming?

Sure! In JavaScript, you can use an associative array to store user data like this: let user = {name: 'Alice', age: 25};.

What about in databases?

In databases, associative arrays can represent rows of data, where each column name is a key and its value is the corresponding data.

Are there any performance considerations when using them?

Yes, associative arrays can have slower performance for large datasets compared to other data structures, so it's important to consider the size and access patterns.