Array Question

Hi, the best way to know what index contains what is to print that array using print_r or var_dump...

print_r($ThirdArray);

or

var_dump($ThirdArray);

Note: If you are printing this in an HTML file, then use the <PRE> tag to align the output correctly..

echo "<PRE>";
print_r($ThirdArray);
echo "</PRE>";


Using this, you can see the contents of $_POST, $_GET variables, arrays or other variables.

---
Harish

I did put a print_r($ThirdArray) in my code for just that reason.
But mgh brings up a couple good points.

Joe P

Sorry Joe, I overlooked that line :-|

No problem, I didn't explain why I put it and I am sure it would help GiantMatrix if we explained it a little more.

I used that print_r() to see exactly how the $ThirdArray was built.  I used that informatio for the following three prints.  I learned something from mgh's last post, using the <pre> would make it much easier to see how the array is built!!  I never knew that, I always thought it was just spaces. =)

Joe P

Hi Joe,

You said "and because some of them you don't give an associated index, they default to 0 (then 1, 2, 3....)".
So can you please tell me how I can make an associated index in those arrays?

Also I tried doing something like this:
print Count($ThirdArray);

and I expected to have 2 displayed, but instead I found 1 ....so is this normal?

Thanks in advance

<?php
      $FirstArray= array(
            'a' => "A",
            'b' => "B"
      );


      $SecondArray = array(
            'a2' => $FirstArray,
            'b2' => "B2"
      );


      $ThirdArray= array(
            'a3' => $SecondArray,
            'b3' => "B3"
      );

      echo "<PRE>\n";
      print_r($ThirdArray);
      echo "\n</PRE>";
?>

Let me explain the entire situation:

1.
       $FirstArray = array();
         array_push($FirstArray, array(
                   'a' => "A",
                   'b' => "B"
         ));

Here you are pushing an array onto $FirstArray.  Because there is no defined associated index, it defaults to 0.  Therefore $FirstArray[0] will be an array with "A", and "B".  So you have 1 element in $FirstArray, that element is an array!!  That array has two elements "A" and "B"

2.
         $SecondArray = array();
         array_push($SecondArray, array(
                   'a2' => $FirstArray,
                   'b2' => "B2"
         ));

Same thing, your pushing an array onto $SecondArray in the 0 position.  Again the count is one, $SecondArray has 1 element that is an array.  That array is itself multidimensional.  That array has two indexs, a2 and b2.  a2 is an array, b2 is just an element.

3.
        $ThirdArray = array();
         array_push($ThirdArray, array(
                   'a3' => $SecondArray,
                   'b3' => "B3"
         ));

The third time you are inserting an array in the 0 position again.  This array is again complex just like $SecondArray.  Notice that $ThirdArray indeed has ONE element.  That one element is an array!  So again the structure of this is [0] holds an array where [a3] is $SecondArray and [b3] is the element B3.  Then you would have to cycle through SecondArray by starting with [0] then [a2] or [b2] for that element.  The cycle continues.

The key issue here is that your pushing arrays into arrays and causing that unecessary [0] element.
Take this situation for example (I am sticking with the array_push only because I want to keep the same flow)
(I will make it another post so it is cleaner)

Joe P

<?php
       $FirstArray = array();
         array_push($FirstArray, array(
                   'a' => "A",
                   'b' => "B"
         ));


        $SecondArray = array();
         array_push($SecondArray, array(
                   'a2' => $FirstArray,
                   'b2' => "B2"
         ));


        $ThirdArray = array();
         array_push($ThirdArray, array(
                   'a3' => $SecondArray,
                   'b3' => "B3"
         ));
print 'Your Method:<br><pre>';
print_r($ThirdArray);
print '</pre>';
// Will print AAA
print $FirstArray[0]['a'];
print $SecondArray[0]['a2'][0]['a'];
print $ThirdArray[0]['a3'][0]['a2'][0]['a'];

// My New Code
$first = array();
array_push($first, 'A', 'B');
$second = array();
array_push($second, $first, 'B2');
$third = array();
array_push($third, $second, 'B3');
print '<br>My Method:<br><pre>';
print_r($third);
print '</pre>';
// Will print AAA
print $first[0];
print$second[0][0];
print $third[0][0][0];
?>

Here the major difference is I am not pushing arrays onto arrays.  I am pushing elements onto the arrays.  Pushing will always put the element in sub 0, sub 1 also known as [0] [1], counting up sequentially.

I come from a java background and I am comfortable with this syntax but I actually perfer giving them names!  For that though I don't think you can do that with array_push() or any other method, you actually need to do the assigning which is not hard at all.

Joe P

Joe, if you push the elements, you won't get the "associative" array.

So, why not declare the array directly ?

Hi Joe,

Thank you so much for your outstanding help and support.

Concerning array_push, I really have no specific reason to use it this function specially. So I think I will stick with you way shown below in order to have nested "associative arrays".

Although my last question here will be, is this the best way in order to have nested associative arrays?

Thanks in advance for your help

$first['a'] = 'A';
$first['b'] = 'B';
$second['first'] = $first;
$second['b2'] = 'B2';f
$third['second'] = $second;
$third['b3'] = 'B3';

Now:
$third['second']['first']['a'] is A
$third['second']['b2'] is B2
And so on.

Is it the best way?  I am not sure.

The optimum way I guess would be having it all right in one single array! =)
But since you have multiple dimensional arrays (ararys in arrays) I don't really see any other way to do it.
Of course you can change the names to anything that you want, that will help you remember.  The use of those associative arrays is to make it easy on use humans =)

Joe P

Thanks Joe for your outstanding help and support