What is the difference between a `Map` object and a plain object in JavaScript?

TL;DR

Both Map objects and plain objects in JavaScript can store key-value pairs, but they have several key differences:

Map vs plain JavaScript objects

In JavaScript, Map objects and a plain object (also known as a "POJO" or "plain old JavaScript object") are both used to store key-value pairs, but they have different characteristics, use cases, and behaviors.

Plain JavaScript objects (POJO)

A plain object is a basic JavaScript object created using the {} syntax. It is a collection of key-value pairs, where each key is a string (or a symbol, in modern JavaScript) and each value can be any type of value, including strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, objects, and more.

const person = { name: 'John', age: 30, occupation: 'Developer' };

Map objects

A Map object, introduced in ECMAScript 2015 (ES6), is a more advanced data structure that allows you to store key-value pairs with additional features. A Map is an iterable, which means you can use it with for...of loops, and it provides methods for common operations like get, set, has, and delete.

const person = new Map([
  ['name', 'John'],
  ['age', 30],
  ['occupation', 'Developer'],
]);

Key differences

Here are the main differences between a Map object and a plain object:

1. Key types: In a plain object, keys are always strings (or symbols). In a Map, keys can be any type of value, including objects, arrays, and even other Maps.
2. Key ordering: In a plain object, the order of keys is not guaranteed. In a Map, the order of keys is preserved, and you can iterate over them in the order they were inserted.
3. Iteration: A Map is iterable, which means you can use for...of loops to iterate over its key-value pairs. A plain object is not iterable by default, but you can use Object.keys() or Object.entries() to iterate over its properties.
4. Performance: Map objects are generally faster and more efficient than plain objects, especially when dealing with large datasets.
5. Methods: A Map object provides additional methods, such as get, set, has, and delete, which make it easier to work with key-value pairs.
6. Serialization: When serializing a Map object to JSON, it will be converted to an object but the existing Map properties might be lost in the conversion. A plain object, on the other hand, is serialized to a JSON object with the same structure.

When to use which

Use a plain object (POJO) when:

• You need a simple, lightweight object with string keys.
• You're working with a small dataset.
• You need to serialize the object to JSON (e.g. to send over the network).

Use a Map object when:

• You need to store key-value pairs with non-string keys (e.g., objects, arrays).
• You need to preserve the order of key-value pairs.
• You need to iterate over the key-value pairs in a specific order.
• You're working with a large dataset and need better performance.

In summary, while both plain objects and Map objects can be used to store key-value pairs, Map objects offer more advanced features, better performance, and additional methods, making them a better choice for more complex use cases.

Notes

Map objects cannot be serialized to be sent in HTTP requests, but libraries like superjson allowing them to be serialized and deserialized.

Further reading

• Map - JavaScript | MDN
• Object - JavaScript | MDN