Remove the [0] element from array without deleting whole array

Question

I'm trying to make a script to remove any empty elements from my array.

However an empty element is in the [0] slot so when I unset the value it deletes my whole array. At least I think that's what's happening, why isn't this working?

<?php

$idfile = file_get_contents("datafile.dat");
$idArray = explode("\n", $idfile);
print_r($idArray);
foreach ($idArray as $key => &$value) {
    echo "Key is: ".$key." and value is: ".$value."<br />\n";
    if ($value == ""){
        echo "Killing value of ".$value."<br />";
        unset($value[$key]);
    }
    $value = str_replace("\n", "", $value);
    $value = str_replace("\r", "", $value);
    $value = $value.".dat";
}

print_r($idArray);
?>

Here's the output:

Array
(
    [0] => 
    [1] => test1
    [2] => test2
)
Key is: 0 and value is: <br>
Killing value of <br>

Try [array_shift()](http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.array-shift.php) to remove the very 1st element — Zoltan Toth, Aug 08 '12 at 20:08
I'll add an extra function in their that checks if the value is "0" then use this. — Matthew 'mandatory' Bryant, Aug 08 '12 at 20:10
possible duplicate of [Remove empty array elements](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3654295/remove-empty-array-elements) — , Aug 08 '12 at 20:10

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 08 '12 at 20:10

4

If you are just removing an empty value try using unset($idArray[$key]) instead. If you are just trying to remove the first element overall, use array_shift()

answered Aug 08 '12 at 20:10

Tim Withers

12,072
5
43
67

I just realized how much of an idiot I am - I tried to remove $value[$key] instead of what you said. Ha, I need sleep. – Matthew 'mandatory' Bryant Aug 08 '12 at 20:12

Alex Kalicki · Answer 2 · 2012-08-08T20:20:18.280

1

Another nice solution would be to use the array_filter() method, which will handle the iteration and return the filtered array for you:

<?php

function isNotEmpty($str)
{
    return strlen($str);
}

$idfile = file_get_contents("datafile.dat");
$idArray = explode("\n", $idfile);
$idArray = array_filter($idArray, "isNotEmpty");

?>

edited Aug 08 '12 at 20:20

answered Aug 08 '12 at 20:14

Alex Kalicki

1,533
9
20

Remove the [0] element from array without deleting whole array

2 Answers2