Multidimensional Array in javascript -

i have this:

var selectathing = {         "id" : "productname" ,         "5" : "abc" ,         "29" : "efg" ,         "28" : "hij" ,         "11" : "xyz"         "23" : "efg" ,         "15" : "hij" ,         "40" : "xyz"     };  $.each(selectathing, function(key, value) {         $('.myselect')           .append($('<option>', { value : key })           .text(value));  }); 

now showing this:

<select>     <option value="5">abc</option>     <option value="11">abc</option>     <option value="15">abc</option>     <option value="23">abc</option>     <option value="28">abc</option>     <option value="29">abc</option>     <option value="40">abc</option> </select> 

this list of used multiple time in form.
so, created js array , load on every select list require.

now added importance level on each row. if level 1 show first on select list.

var selectathing = {         level : [ "id" : "thingname", "id" : "thingname"]     };  var selectathing = {         1 : [ "5" : "abc", "29" : "efg"],         2 : [ "28" : "hij" , "11" : "xyz"],         3 : [ "23" : "efg" , "15" : "hij" , "40" : "xyz"]     }; 

with importance level, want show importannt content on top on select list, order first level, next id. this:

<select>     <!-- importance level 1 -->     <option value="5">abc</option>     <option value="29">abc</option>     <!-- importance level 2 -->     <option value="28">abc</option>     <option value="11">abc</option>     <!-- importance level 3 -->     <option value="23">abc</option>     <option value="15">abc</option>     <option value="40">abc</option> </select> 

now not sure how going convert array select list or array right!
:(
help!
advance thanks!

your data structures not make sense , should reconsider layout.

think resembles database table:

var selectathing = [     {id: "5", name: "abc"},     {id: "29", name: "efg"},     {id: "28", name: "hij"},     {id: "11", name: "xyz"},     {id: "23", name: "efg"},     {id: "15", name: "hij"},     {id: "40", name: "xyz"} ];  selectathing.sort(function (a, b) {     return sortalpha(a.name, b.name); });  $.each(selectathing, function(i, thing) {     $('<option>', { value: thing.id, text: thing.name }).appendto('.myselect'); }); 

extending priorities or other attribute becomes trivial:

var selectathing = [     {id: "15", name: "hij", priority: 3},     {id: "23", name: "efg", priority: 3},     {id: "40", name: "xyz", priority: 3},     {id: "28", name: "hij", priority: 2},     {id: "11", name: "xyz", priority: 2},     {id:  "5", name: "abc", priority: 1},     {id: "29", name: "efg", priority: 1} ];  selectathing.sort(function (a, b) {     if (a.priority === b.priority) {         return sortalpha(a.name, b.name);     } else {         return sortnum(a.priority, b.priority);     } });  $.each(selectathing, function(i, thing) {     $('<option>', {value: thing.id, text: thing.name}).appendto('.myselect'); }); 

helpers:

function sortalpha(a, b) {     = a.tolowercase();     b = b.tolowercase();     if (a < b) return -1;     if (a > b) return 1;     return 0; } function sortnum(a, b) {     = parsefloat(a);     b = parsefloat(b);     if (a < b) return -1;     if (a > b) return 1;     return 0; }