How can I call specific array when the array keys are numbers

Question

How can I call specific array when the array keys are numbers. My array looks like this:

my arrays is equal to $output:

Array
(
    [7] = Array
        (
            [name] = Grill Specifications
            [attributes] = Array
                (
                    [46] = Array
                        (
                            [name] = Fuel Type
                            [values] = Array
                                (
                                    [0] = Charcoal,Natural Gas,Combo
                                    [1] = Charcoal,Propane,Combo
                                    [2] = Charcoal,Propane,Natural Gas,Combo
                                    [3] = Natural Gas
                                    [4] = Natural Gas,Propane
                                    [5] = Propane
                                    [6] = Propane,Natural Gas
                                )

                        )

and so on... I have alot of them...

What I need to do is take all the keys of the [values] and explode the values of those keys where there is a comma. Then make them all unique. I do not know how to call those arrays without having to keep typing the numbers like this: $output[7][attributes][46][values]

Any help would be appreciated.

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 12 '14 at 16:28

function extractUniques(array $array) {
    $values = [];
    $callback = function(array $array) use (&$callback, &$values) {
        foreach ($array AS $key => $value) {
            $isArray = is_array($value);
            if (strcasecmp($key, 'value') === 0 && $isArray) {
                foreach ($value AS $item) {
                    if (is_scalar($item)) {
                        $values = array_merge($values, explode(',', (string) $item));
                    }
                }
            } else if ($isArray) {
                $callback($value);
            }
        }
    };
    $callback($array);
    $trimmed = array_map(function($value) {
        return trim($value);
    }, $values);
    return array_unique($trimmed);
}

This function goes recursively through the array and searches keys equal to "value", if array is found they are being iterated and every scalar element is exploded using comma as a delimiter. Finally all strings are trimmed and unique list of elements is returned.

Usage:

$uniques = extractUniques($output);
var_dump($uniques);

Also, you probably are going to need a rather new version of PHP. 5.3 or 5.4 should work fine. If it is not working you can start with replacing $values = []; with $values = array(); and replacing $callback with actual function so you won't be using closures.

cHao · Answer 2 · 2014-04-12T16:54:42.100

If you have a specific array deep in a tree like that, and you just want to read the values, simply assign the sub-array to a variable.

$values = $output[7]['attributes'][46]['values'];

(Note that any of those keys can be variables. For example, if $id === 7 and $key === 'attributes', you can say $values = $output[$id][$key][46]['values']; to do the same thing.)

Now you can just look at $values instead of spelunking in a tree every time, because each is effectively a copy of the other.

assert('$values[0] === $output[7]["attributes"][46]["values"][0]');

If you need to be able to change the array, you can use a reference instead...

$values =& $output[7]['attributes'][46]['values'];
#        ^
#        +-- note the ampersand

That makes $values an alias for $output[7]['attributes'][46]['values'], so any change you make to one will also appear in the other.

(Note, though, references tend to cause magical-looking behavior -- and in a computer program, magic is often a bad thing. Don't go using references willy-nilly just because you can; they should only be used where they're clearer than the alternative.)

As for the problem at hand, once you have $values, it'd be simpler to join and then explode.

$joined = implode(',', $values);
$unique = array_unique(explode(',', $joined));

gfish3000 · Answer 3 · 2014-04-12T16:46:51.040

0

$values = array();

for ($i = 0; $i < count($output[7]['attributes'][46]['values']); $i++) {
    $exploded = explode(',', $output[7]['attributes'][46]['values'][$i]);

    for ($j = 0; $j < count($exploded); $j++) {
        array_push($values, $exploded[$j]);
    }
}

echo array_unique($values);

That's probably the most straightforward way to get this done and you can add extra comparisons and validation based on what you find in your data.

edited Apr 12 '14 at 16:46

answered Apr 12 '14 at 16:33

gfish3000

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Arrays don't have a `.length` in PHP. Use `count(your array)` instead. Or even better, `foreach ((your array) as $i => $str)`. – cHao Apr 12 '14 at 16:45
Opps, got my wires crossed between PHP and JS there for a sec. Good catch @cHao, thanks! – gfish3000 Apr 12 '14 at 17:00

How can I call specific array when the array keys are numbers

3 Answers3