# Description
> Our `Record` looks like a map, quacks like a map, so let's treat it
with the API for a map
Implement common methods found on e.g. `std::collections::HashMap` or
the insertion-ordered [indexmap](https://docs.rs/indexmap).
This allows contributors to not have to worry about how to get to the
relevant items and not mess up the assumptions of a Nushell record.
## Record assumptions
- `cols` and `vals` are of equal length
- for all practical purposes, keys/columns should be unique
## End goal
The end goal of the upcoming series of PR's is to allow us to make
`cols` and `vals` private.
Then it would be possible to exchange the backing datastructure to best
fit the expected workload.
This could be statically (by finding the best balance) or dynamically by
using an `enum` of potential representations.
## Parts
- Add validating explicit part constructor
`Record::from_raw_cols_vals()`
- Add `Record.columns()` iterator
- Add `Record.values()` iterator
- Add consuming `Record.into_values()` iterator
- Add `Record.contains()` helper
- Add `Record.insert()` that respects existing keys
- Add key-based `.get()`/`.get_mut()` to `Record`
- Add `Record.get_index()` for index-based access
- Implement `Extend` for `Record` naively
- Use checked constructor in `record!` macro
- Add `Record.index_of()` to get index by key
# User-Facing Changes
None directly
# Developer facing changes
You don't have to roll your own record handling and can use a familiar
API
# Tests + Formatting
No explicit unit tests yet. Wouldn't be too tricky to validate core
properties directly.
Will be exercised by the following PRs using the new
methods/traits/iterators.
c87bac04c0