Function in Python to PHP

Question

Does anyone know how to convert this function from Python to PHP?

I have been around it but there is things in Python code I can't figure out.

This function is used in the follow context: http://www.dmcloud.net/doc/api/general.html#authentication

def normalize(input=None):
output = ''

if type(input) in (list, tuple):
    for element in input:
        if type(element) in (dict, list, tuple):
            element = normalize(element)
        output += str(element)

elif type(input) is dict:
    keys = input.keys()
    keys.sort()
    for key in keys:
        element = input[key]
        if type(element) in (dict, list, tuple):
            element = normalize(element)
        output += '%s%s' % (key, element)

else:
    output = str(input)

return output

Thank you!

Can you elaborate on how this function is used, and how you plan to use it in PHP? It uses language specific python features which don't directly translate. — George, Oct 28 '11 at 21:51
It does converts json content in recursive text without any spaces, etc. Please take a look here to the example: http://www.dmcloud.net/doc/api/general.html#authentication — PGZ, Oct 28 '11 at 21:55

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

2

php has no distinction between dictionaries and tuples/lists, so:

function normalize($input=null) {
  if (! is_array($input)) {
    return strval($input);
  }

  $res = '';
  $keys = array_keys($input);
  sort($keys);
  foreach ($keys as $k) {
    if (!is_int($k)) $res .= $k;
    $res .= normalize($v);
  }
  return $res;
}

Notably, this serialization sucks, since it cannot distinguish integers from numbers. YOu should really be using JSON (in php as well as Python), which is a language-independent, human-readable serialization format.

Instead of using this string for authentication, one should simply use a hash over the JSON serialization.

edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

Community

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answered Oct 28 '11 at 21:53

phihag

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Thanks. I've added the link on the original post. The objective is break the JSON readable format for authentication purposes. – PGZ Oct 28 '11 at 22:04
@PGZ I've seen that, and added a paragraph about how that's a bad idea as well. Does this php code work for you? – phihag Oct 28 '11 at 22:07
@PGZ Sorry, I don't understand. What precisely do you mean by JSON code? The JSON serialization? The input structure? Note that neither one is changed by the Python code as well. – phihag Oct 28 '11 at 22:38
If I place on a JSON code like "call": "media.get_assets", "args": {"a":"b"}, it does not affects it. – PGZ Nov 05 '11 at 20:18

Function in Python to PHP

1 Answers1