PHP array() Function

Hello folks! welcome back to a new section of our tutorial on PHP. In this tutorial guide, we are going to be studying about the PHP array() Function.

The array() function is used for creating an array. This function can be used in creating an indexed or associative array. The arrays could either be single dimensional or multi-dimensional.

Syntax

Following below is the syntax of creating a PHP indexed array -

$a = array(value1, value2, value3, ...)

Following below is the syntax of creating an associative array -

$a = array(key1 => value1, key2 => value2...)

READ: A Definitive Guide to PHP Bugs Debugging

Parameter Details

Sr.No	Parameter & Description
1	key(Optional) It specifies the key, of type numeric or string. If not set, an integer key is generated, starting at 0
2	value(Required) It specifies the value

Return Value

This built-in PHP function returns an array of the parameters.

PHP Version

This PHP function was first lunched as part of core PHP v 4.0.0.

Example1

The below example creates an empty PHP array -

<?php
   $abc = array();
   print_r($abc);
?>

Output

When the above code is executed, it will produce the following result -

Array ()

Example2

The below example creates an indexed array with few elements -

<?php
   $abc = array("A", "B", "C");
   print_r($abc);
?>

Output

When the above code is executed, it will produce the following result -

Array
(
    [0] => A
    [1] => B
    [2] => C
)

Example3

Following example creates PHP associative array with numbers as key -

<?php
   $abc = array(1 => "One", 2 => "Two", 3 => "Three");
   print_r($abc);
?>

Output

When the above code is executed, it will produce the following result -

Array
(
    [1] => One
    [2] => Two
    [3] => Three
)

READ: PHP Regular Expressions

Example4

Following example creates PHP associative array with strings as key -

<?php
   $abc = array("one" => "One", "two" => "Two", "three" => "Three");
   print_r($abc);
?>

Output

When the above code is executed, it will produce the following result -

Array
(
    [one] => One
    [two] => Two
    [three] => Three
)

Example5

The below example shows how to include more values to an existing PHP array -

<?php
   $abc = array(1 => "One", 2 => "Two", 3 => "Three");
   print_r($abc);
   
   /* Add two more value in above array */
   $abc[4] = "Four";
   $abc[5] = "Five";
   print_r($abc);
?>

Output

When the above code is executed, it will produce the following result -

Array
(
    [1] => One
    [2] => Two
    [3] => Three
)

Array
(
    [1] => One
    [2] => Two
    [3] => Three
    [4] => Four
    [5] => Five
)

Example6

The below example shows how to create two-dimensional array, how to designate keys for associative array, and finally how to bypass-and-continue numeric indices in normal arrays -

<?php
   $fruits = array (
      "fruits"  => array("a" => "orange", "b" => "banana", "c" => "apple"),
      "numbers" => array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6),
      "holes" => array("first", 5 => "second", "third")
   );
   print_r($fruits);
?>

Output

When the above code is executed, it will produce the following result -

Array
(
    [fruits] => Array
        (
            [a] => orange
            [b] => banana
            [c] => apple
        )

    [numbers] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
            [1] => 2
            [2] => 3
            [3] => 4
            [4] => 5
            [5] => 6
        )

    [holes] => Array
        (
            [0] => first
            [5] => second
            [6] => third
        )

)

Example7

To delete either an individual array or a complete array, you can use the unset() function -

<?php
   $abc = array(1 => "One", 2 => "Two", 3 => "Three");
   print_r($abc);

   /* Now let's delete element with index 2*/
   unset( $abc[2] );
   print_r($abc);
   
   /* Now let's delete complete array */
   unset($abc);
   print_r($abc);
?>

Output

When the above code is executed, it will produce the following result -

Array
(
    [1] => One
    [2] => Two
    [3] => Three
)

Array
(
    [1] => One
    [3] => Three
)

PHP Notice:  Undefined variable: abc in main.php on line 13

READ: PHP Predefined Variable

Alright guys! This is where we are rounding up for this tutorial post. In our next tutorial guide, we are going to be discussing about the PHP array_change_key_case() Function.

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