How to populate a javascript array from a dropdownlist selected value?

Question

QUESTION

How can I populate myArray with one of the arrays listed and change it using the selected option of a dropdown list?

Using javascript or jQuery

<select id="ddl">
  <option>arr1</option>
  <option>arr2</option>
  <option>arr3</option>
</select>

var arr1 = ['A', 'B', 'C'],
    arr2 = ['1', '2', '3'],
    arr3 = ['X', 'Y', 'Z'],
    array = document.getElementById('ddl').value;

//...
myArray: array

PROBLEM

Currently ddl is just a string value and I need the selected value to be one of the javascript variables.

Answer 1

You can use an object to store your arrays in, then access that object using the string value of the dropdown. Something like this:

var options = {
    arr1: ['A', 'B', 'C'],
    arr2: ['1', '2', '3'],
    arr3: ['X', 'Y', 'Z']
}
var array = options[$('#ddl').val()]; // options[document.getElementById('ddl').value]

Example fiddle

Answer 2

You could make a multi dimensional array:

var arr = [];
arr['arr1'] = ['A', 'B', 'C'],
arr['arr2'] = ['1', '2', '3'],
arr['arr3'] = ['X', 'Y', 'Z'];

var selectedArray = arr[document.getElementById('ddl').value];

Example

Answer 3

What about that using the concept of @Rory McCrossan and adding the right values to the option?

<select id="ddl">
  <option value="0">arr1</option>
  <option value="1">arr2</option>
  <option value="2">arr3</option>
</select>

var options =[    
    ['A', 'B', 'C'],
    ['1', '2', '3'],
    ['X', 'Y', 'Z'] 
];

$('#ddl').change(function () {

    var ch = $('#ddl').val();
    var array = options[ch];
    //test
    alert(options[ch]);

});