var friends = { bill : {firstName:"Bill",lastName:"Fu",number:33,address :["Street No1","asdf"]}, bill2 : {firstName:"bill2",lastName:"Fu",number:33,address :["Street No1","asdf"]}, steve : {firstName:"Steve",lastName:"Fu",number:33,address :["Street No1","asdf"]}, bella : {firstName:"bill2",lastName:"Fu",number:33,address :["Street No1","asdf"]} } var list = function(obj){ for(var prop in obj ){ console.log(prop); } }; list(friends); var search = function(name){ for(var prop in friends ){ if(friends[prop].firstName === name){ console.log("============="); console.log(prop); //bill console.log("============="); console.log(friends[prop]); //bill{} console.log("============="); return friends[prop]; } } }; search("Steve");