(PHP 4, PHP 5, PHP 7, PHP 8)
array — Create an array
Creates an array. Read the section on the
array type for more information
on what an array is, including details about the alternative bracket syntax ([]).
valuesSyntax "index => values", separated by commas, define index and values. index may be of type string or integer. When index is omitted, an integer index is automatically generated, starting at 0. If index is an integer, next generated index will be the biggest integer index + 1. Note that when two identical indices are defined, the last overwrites the first.
Having a trailing comma after the last defined array entry, while unusual, is a valid syntax.
Returns an array of the parameters. The parameters can be given
an index with the => operator. Read the section
on the array type for more
information on what an array is.
The following example demonstrates how to create a two-dimensional array, how to specify keys for associative arrays, and how to skip-and-continue numeric indices in normal arrays.
Example #1 array() example
<?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")
);
?>
Example #2 Automatic index with array()
<?php
$array = array(1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 8 => 1, 4 => 1, 19, 3 => 13);
print_r($array);
?>The above example will output:
Array
(
[0] => 1
[1] => 1
[2] => 1
[3] => 13
[4] => 1
[8] => 1
[9] => 19
)
Note that index '3' is defined twice, and keep its final value of 13. Index 4 is defined after index 8, and next generated index (value 19) is 9, since biggest index was 8.
This example creates a 1-based array.
Example #3 1-based index with array()
<?php
$firstquarter = array(1 => 'January', 'February', 'March');
print_r($firstquarter);
?>The above example will output:
Array
(
[1] => January
[2] => February
[3] => March
)
As in Perl, you can access a value from the array inside double quotes. However, with PHP you'll need to enclose your array between curly braces.
Example #4 Accessing an array inside double quotes
<?php
$foo = array('bar' => 'baz');
echo "Hello {$foo['bar']}!"; // Hello baz!
?>
Note:
array() is a language construct used to represent literal arrays, and not a regular function.
As of PHP 5.4.x you can now use 'short syntax arrays' which eliminates the need of this function.Example #1 'short syntax array'<?php $a = [1, 2, 3, 4]; print_r($a);?>The above example will output:Array( [0] => 1 [1] => 2 [2] => 3 [3] => 4)Example #2 'short syntax associative array'<?php $a = ['one' => 1, 'two' => 2, 'three' => 3, 'four' => 4]; print_r($a);?>The above example will output:Array( [one] => 1 [two] => 2 [three] => 3 [four] => 4)I want to point smt important about accessing array value from within double quotes that didn't get mentioned in the article.As article says you can access array values from within double quotes, using the curly braces syntax. However, you can also access it without curly braces and array access quotes:$foo = array('bar' => 'baz');echo "Hello $foo[bar]";returns "Hello baz" with no errorNote: I didn't check for all of the PHP versions.