--- title: Mapping arrays slug: mapping-arrays description: Understand how to map elements of simple and complex arrays to pass specific data image: https://archbee-image-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/oAyFj2GHlBeBVWF5OAir2/070RMWVbgE3FkKMR88o7Q_domino-zoomin-purple-a-1.png docTags: createdAt: 2025-02-03T13:29:15.599Z --- An array is a special type of item. A simple array contains one or more text values. A complex array contains one or more collections of the same type. An example of a complex array is the email attachment. The Watch emails module returns an array of attachments for every email. Every attachment represents a collection that may contain a name, content, size, etc. ::embed[]{url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfCpgbamBD0"} ## Mapping an array's first element If you map the array's `Recipient name` item, it will appear in the field like this: ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/oAyFj2GHlBeBVWF5OAir2/OnXP3EqUTTvIsq1rY9OyJ_uuid-b7bff420-f9e9-808d-1556-88acb2c890fb.png" size="58" width="320" height="45" position="center" showCaption="false"} The number between the square brackets is an index that determines which element of the array will be used. Leaving it empty defaults to the first element. ## Mapping an array's element If you wish to access another element, enter or map a value between the square brackets. In the below example, enter 2 to select the second element. ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/oAyFj2GHlBeBVWF5OAir2/yXQA3bzNRm38ekr1Fy9er_uuid-1f4657b7-6712-032a-ec36-ca96dfb0c3bd.png" size="58" width="321" height="50" position="center" showCaption="false"} ## Mapping an array's element with a given key Some arrays contain several collections with *key* and *value* items. These are typically various metadata, attributes, etc. The following example shows the output of the *WooCommerce > Get a product* module that contains the item `Meta data`, which is an array of collections. Each collection contains the key item `Meta Data ID `and the value item `Value`: ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/oAyFj2GHlBeBVWF5OAir2/_jiBR3UL-9smC7q6xt6sQ_uuid-59a2b36c-22af-1820-97e3-5017f8013231.png) The typical requirement is to lookup an element by its given *key* value and to obtain the corresponding value from the *value* item. This can be achieved with a [formula](docId\:EfN1AJre8itYVlHd3X9hB) employing a combination of the `first ()` and [`get ()`](docId\:pMt2j3NdX4B4BP51gXk6T) functions. The following example shows how to obtain the value of the `Value` item of the element with *key* `Meta data ID` item value equal to `20642` ::Image[]{src="https://app.archbee.com/api/optimize/oAyFj2GHlBeBVWF5OAir2/bw9OCMIpDwfXkIG3JFrei-20251021-110924.png" size="60" width="467" height="49" position="center" showCaption="false"} The result of the formula will be "no". The detailed breakdown of the formula follows: :::::WorkflowBlock :::WorkflowBlockItem The 1st parameter of the `map()` function is the whole array item. ::: ::::WorkflowBlockItem The 2nd parameter is the **raw name** of the value item. To obtain the raw name, hover the mouse cursor over the item in the mapping panel: ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/4CkrlJIBl1di_p1x71ery-iWp8r0ANjkYv0bxrdoFgl-20250212-120255.png" size="62" width="281" height="113" position="center" showCaption="false"} :::hint{type="warning"} All parameters are case sensitive. Even though in this particular example the item's label differs from its raw name only in capitalization, it is necessary to use the raw name, which is all lowercase `value` in contrast to the label `Value` ::: :::: :::WorkflowBlockItem The 3rd parameter is the raw name of the *key* item: ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/4CkrlJIBl1di_p1x71ery-KTAwJVxsN89LhJDD78Rir-20250212-120424.png" size="66" width="344" height="94" position="center" showCaption="false"} ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem The 4th parameter is the given *key* value. ::: ::::: Because the `map()` function returns an array (as there could be more elements with the given key value), it is necessary to apply the `first ()` function to get its first element: ::::WorkflowBlock :::WorkflowBlockItem The 1st parameter of the `first ()` function is the result of the `map()` function. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem The 2nd parameter is the element's index - one. ::: :::: See also our [Extract an item and/or its value from an array of collections](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9CgDTeppmE) video tutorial. ::embed[See also our [Extract an item and/or its value from an array of collections](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9CgDTeppmE) video tutorial.]{url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9CgDTeppmE"} ## Converting elements to a series of bundles Arrays can be converted to a series of bundles using the [Iterator](docId\:NcSZYP3n_O5A3R4CUQceL) module: ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/oAyFj2GHlBeBVWF5OAir2/qzkt2nyCjMyapRamavFkF_uuid-823e9289-d77f-e413-bd0b-5156e64a7d5d.png" size="82" width="695" height="366" position="center" alt="Mapping_iterator.png" showCaption="false"} :::hint{type="info"} The outputs from modules wrapped between an Iterator and Aggregator are not accessible beyond the Aggregator module. :::