What is the difference between a map and a dictionary?

Two terms for the same thing:

  • “Map” is used by Java, C++
  • “Dictionary” is used by .Net, Python
  • “Associative array” is used by PHP

“Map” is the correct mathematical term, but it is avoided because it has a separate meaning in functional programming.

Some languages use still other terms (“Object” in Javascript, “Hash” in Ruby, “Table” in Lua), but those all have separate meanings in programming too, so I’d avoid them.

See here for more info.

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