Return table value index via metatable - indexing

Question

I'm looking for a way to retrive index value via metatable. This is my attempt:
local mt = { __index =
{
index = function(t, value)
local value = 0
for k, entry in ipairs(t) do
if (entry == value) then
value = k
end
end
return value
end
}
}
t = {
"foo", "bar"
}
setmetatable(t,mt)
print(t.index(t,"foo"))
Result is 0 instead of 1. Where I'm wrong?

Answer 1

My attempt:
local mt = {
__index = function(t,value)
for index, val in pairs(t) do
if value == val then
return index
end
end
end
}
t = {
"foo",
"bar",
"aaa",
"bbb",
"aaa"
}
setmetatable(t,mt)
print(t["aaa"]) -- 3
print(t["asd"]) -- nil
print(t["bbb"]) -- 4
print(t["aaa"]) -- 3
print(t["bar"]) -- 2
print(t["foo"]) -- 1

Answer 2

Result is 0 instead of 1. Where [am I] wrong?
The code for the index function is wrong; the problem is not related to the (correct) metatable usage. You're shadowing the parameter value when you declare local value = 0. Subsequent entry == value comparisons yield false as the strings don't equal 0. Rename either the parameter or the local variable:
index = function(t, value)
local res = 0
for k, entry in ipairs(t) do
if entry == value then
res = k
end
end
return res
end
An early return instead of using a local variable in the first place works as well and helps improve performance.
To prevent such errors from happening again, consider getting a linter like Luacheck, which will warn you if you shadow variables. Some editors support Luacheck out of the box; otherwise there are usually decent plugins available.