t = {} t["foo"] = "foo" t.bar = "bar" t[1] = "one" t[2] = "two" t[3] = "three" t[12] = "the number twelve" t["12"] = "the string twelve" t[true] = "true" t[tonumber] = "yes, even functions may be table keys" t[t] = "yes, a table may be a table key too. Even in itself."