**(a: // <span class=parameter_optional>[</span>...Any<span class=parameter_optional>]</span>//) -> //[[harlowe:Array|array]]//**

Also known as: [[harlowe:array|(array:)]]

Creates an [[harlowe:array|array]], which is an ordered collection of values.

=== Example usage: ===

''%%(a:)%%'' creates an empty array, which could be filled with other values later.
''%%(a: "gold", "frankincense", "myrrh")%%'' creates an array with three [[harlowe:string|string]].
This is also a valid array, but with its elements spaced in a way that makes them more readable:

<code>
(a:
"You didn't sleep in the tiniest bed",
"You never ate the just-right porridge",
"You never sat in the smallest chair",
)
</code>
=== Rationale: ===

For an explanation of what arrays are, see the Array article. This macro is the primary
means of creating arrays - simply supply the values to it, in order.

=== Details: ===

Note that due to the way the spread ''%%...%%'' operator works, spreading an array into
the (a:) macro will accomplish nothing: ''%%(a: ...$array)%%'' is the same as just the ''%%$array%%''.

=== See also: ===

[[harlowe:dm|(dm:)]], [[harlowe:ds|(ds:)]]