An Introduction to Arrays
What is an array?
Arrays can most easilly be described as an ordered list. An array is a list of scalar data (If you don't know what a scalar variable is, you should take a look at my first tutorial. Scalar data in arrays are called 'elements'.) that is 'indexed' (so to speek) with numeric or named keys. A 'key' is either a name or a number given to an element in an array as a reference (if a key is numeric, it is called a 'subscript').
Example of an array:
PHP Example: (!)
<?php
$six = 6;
$arrayname = array("this is an element",5,$six);
echo $arrayname[0]; //prints: this is an element
echo $arrayname[1]; //prints: 5
echo $arrayname[2]; //prints: 6
?>
As you can see, elements in an array can be any type of scalar data (string, integer, double) and can also be other variables. In this example, the 'keys' are numeric (assigned automatically for you), so when echo'ing the elements, you use the array name followed by the subscript ($arrayname[subscript]). Notice that the subscript of the first element is zero? This will always be the case with numeric keys.
Associative arrays
Associative arrays are arrays that use named keys that you assign to them. Lets look at a few examples...
PHP Example: (!)
<?php
$arrayone = array("key1" => "this is the first element.", "key2" => "this is the second element");
$arraytwo = array(
"key3" => "this is the first element of the second array",
"key4" => "this is the second element of the second array",
);
echo $arrayone['key1']; //prints "this is the first element."
echo $arraytwo['key3']; //prints "this is the first element of the second array"
echo $arrayone['key2']; //prints "this is the second element"
echo $arraytwo['key4']; //prints "this is the second element of the second array"
?>
Now we're getting to where you know how to define an array (and an associative array), but you probably don't see how there useful yet. Well think of this, say you have a bakery that sells pies. You have 3 different flavors, and each flavor has a different price. lets make this example in php...
PHP Example: (!)
<?php
$bakery = array(
"cherry" => "5.00",
"apple" => "4.00",
"other" => "2.00",
);
echo "cherry pie costs $bakery['cherry'], apple pie costs $bakery['apple'], and that other pie costs $bakery['other'].";
?>
Ok, you've got an example of how to use arrays (a very basic example, grant me that). But what if you want to give more information on each pie? You now have the cost, but what if you wanted to add the number of pieces you get for that price, and if the pie was sugarless or not? One way is using mutlidimensional arrays. Read on.
Multidimensional Arrays
Think of multidimensional arrays as simply a list of arrays. This might seem confusing at first, but im sure with a few examples (and a few pies) you will get the big picture. Pick up your fork, its time to eat:
PHP Example: (!)
<?php
$bakery = array(
"cherry" => array("5.00","2 pieces","sugar"),
"apple" => array("4.00","3 pieces","sugar"),
"other" => array("2.00","1 piece","sugar-free"),
);
echo "cherry pie costs ".$bakery['cherry'][0].", and you get ".$bakery['cherry'][1].".";
//prints "cherry pie costs 5.00, and you get 2 pieces."
echo "apple pie costs ".$bakery['apple'][0].", and you get ".$bakery['apple'][1].".";
//prints "apple pie costs 4.00, and you get 3 pieces."
echo "the other pie costs ".$bakery['other'][0].", but its ".$bakery['other'][2].".";
//prints "the other pie costs 2.00, but its sugar-free.
?>
Hopefully now you will be prepared to use arrays when you begin querying mysql databases, and performing other forms of intermediate to advanced data manipulation. If you've noticed, this 'tutorial' wasn't really a tutorial. I'm only trying to give you the basic idea of how to define and use these arrays, not give you all the information a person could possibly fathom. Hey, that might explain the whole "Introduction" word in the title.
Related Functions:
array_change_key_case -- Returns an array with all string keys lowercased or uppercased
array_chunk -- Split an array into chunks
array_count_values -- Counts all the values of an array
array_diff_assoc -- Computes the difference of arrays with additional index check
array_diff -- Computes the difference of arrays
array_fill -- Fill an array with values
array_filter -- Filters elements of an array using a callback function
array_flip -- Flip all the values of an array
array_intersect_assoc -- Computes the intersection of arrays with additional index check
array_intersect -- Computes the intersection of arrays
array_key_exists -- Checks if the given key or index exists in the array
array_keys -- Return all the keys of an array
array_map -- Applies the callback to the elements of the given arrays
array_merge_recursive -- Merge two or more arrays recursively
array_merge -- Merge two or more arrays
array_multisort -- Sort multiple or multi-dimensional arrays
array_pad -- Pad array to the specified length with a value
array_pop -- Pop the element off the end of array
array_push -- Push one or more elements onto the end of array
array_rand -- Pick one or more random entries out of an array
array_reduce -- Iteratively reduce the array to a single value using a callback function
array_reverse -- Return an array with elements in reverse order
array_search -- Searches the array for a given value and returns the corresponding key if successful
array_shift -- Shift an element off the beginning of array
array_slice -- Extract a slice of the array
array_splice -- Remove a portion of the array and replace it with something else
array_sum -- Calculate the sum of values in an array.
array_unique -- Removes duplicate values from an array
array_unshift -- Prepend one or more elements to the beginning of array
array_values -- Return all the values of an array
array_walk -- Apply a user function to every member of an array
array -- Create an array
arsort -- Sort an array in reverse order and maintain index association
asort -- Sort an array and maintain index association
compact -- Create array containing variables and their values
count -- Count elements in a variable
current -- Return the current element in an array
each -- Return the current key and value pair from an array and advance the array cursor
end -- Set the internal pointer of an array to its last element
extract -- Import variables into the current symbol table from an array
in_array -- Return TRUE if a value exists in an array
key -- Fetch a key from an associative array
krsort -- Sort an array by key in reverse order
ksort -- Sort an array by key
list -- Assign variables as if they were an array
natcasesort -- Sort an array using a case insensitive "natural order" algorithm
natsort -- Sort an array using a "natural order" algorithm
next -- Advance the internal array pointer of an array
pos -- Get the current element from an array
prev -- Rewind the internal array pointer
range -- Create an array containing a range of elements
reset -- Set the internal pointer of an array to its first element
rsort -- Sort an array in reverse order
shuffle -- Shuffle an array
sizeof -- Get the number of elements in variable
sort -- Sort an array
uasort -- Sort an array with a user-defined comparison function and maintain index association
uksort -- Sort an array by keys using a user-defined comparison function
usort -- Sort an array by values using a user-defined comparison function