Conventionality analysis of array objects in JavaScript

Abstract

In JavaScript, arrays are objects with a property named length that is automatically updated. An index is a property that is a string representation of an integer between 0 and 232 − 2. A conventional array is an array that does not have any properties other than indices and length. Do JavaScript programmers use arrays conventionally just like in other object oriented languages? Do they use arrays like regular objects? This paper proposes a static conventionality analysis for JavaScript to help us to find answers to these questions. Conventionality analysis can be useful for program understanding and optimization.