Chapter 5

Array

By: Asst. Lect. Montadhar Moslem

▸ An array stores multiple values in one single variable.

▸ An array is a special variable that can hold many values under a single name, and you can access the
values by referring to an index number or name.

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Create Array
▸ You can create arrays by using the array() function:

▸ You can also use a shorter syntax by using the [] brackets:

▸ Multiple Lines: Line breaks are not important, so an array declaration can span multiple lines:

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Create Array
▸ Trailing Comma: A comma after the last item ▸ Array Keys: When creating indexed arrays the
is allowed: keys are given automatically, starting at 0 and
increased by 1 for each item, so the array
above could also be created with keys:

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Exercise

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Array Types
▸ In PHP, there are three types of arrays:

• Indexed arrays - Arrays with a numeric index

• Associative arrays - Arrays with named keys

• Multidimensional arrays - Arrays containing one or more arrays

▸ Array Items

• Array items can be of any data type.

• The most common are strings and numbers (int, float), but array items can also be objects,
functions or even arrays.

• You can have different data types in the same array.

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Indexed Arrays
▸ In indexed arrays each item has an index number.

▸ By default, the first item has index 0, the second item has item 1, etc.

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Access Indexed Arrays
▸ To access an array item you can refer to the index number.

0 1 2

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Change Value
▸ To change the value of an array item, use the index number:

0 1 2

Change the value of the second item:

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Loop Through an Indexed Array
▸ To loop through and print all the values of an indexed array, you could use a foreach loop, like this:

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Associative Arrays
▸ Associative arrays are arrays that use named keys that you assign to them.

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Access Associative Arrays
▸ To access an array item you can refer to the key name.

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Access Associative Arrays
▸ Double or Single Quotes: You can use both double and single quotes when accessing an array:

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Change Value
▸ To change the value of an array item, use the key name:

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Loop Through an Associative Array
▸ To loop through and print all the values of an associative array, you could use a foreach loop, like
this:

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Exercise

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Add Array Items
▸ To add items to an existing array, you can use the bracket [] syntax.

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Add Array Items
▸ To add items to an associative array, or key/value array, use brackets [] for the key, and assign
value with the = operator.

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Exercise

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Delete Array Items
▸ Using the unset() Function

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Delete Array Items
▸ The unset() function takes a unlimited number of arguments, and can therefore be used to delete
multiple array items:

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Delete Array Items
▸ Remove Item From an Associative Array

▸ To remove items from an associative array, you can use the unset() function.

▸ Specify the key of the item you want to delete.

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