title: How to create an associative array in JavaScript literal notation
body: <p>I understand that there are no <em>associative arrays</em> in JavaScript, only <em>objects</em>.</p>
  <p>However I can create an <em>array</em> with string keys using <em>bracket notation</em> like this:</p>
  <pre><code>var myArray = [];
  myArray['a'] = 200;
  myArray['b'] = 300;
  console.log(myArray); // Prints [a: 200, b: 300]
  </code></pre>
  <p>So I want to do the exact same thing without using <em>bracket notation</em>:</p>
  <pre><code>var myNewArray = [a: 200, b: 300]; // I am getting error - Unexpected token:
  </code></pre>
  <p>This does not work either:</p>
  <pre><code>var myNewArray = ['a': 200, 'b': 300]; // Same error. Why can I not create?
  </code></pre>