Associative arrays

An associative array, also known as a dictionary or map, is a data structure that stores data in key-value pairs. Think of it like a real-world dictionary: each word (key) has a definition (value). Instead of looking up by position, you access data directly using its key, making retrieval quick and intuitive. Associative arrays are useful in programming for organizing related information, such as storing a person's details with keys like "name" and "age," allowing efficient access and updates based on descriptive identifiers.