PHP ARRAYS
Arrays in PHP are a type of data structure that allows us
to store multiple elements of similar or different data
types under a single variable
thereby saving us the effort of creating a different
variable for every data.
The arrays are helpful to create a list of elements of
similar types, which can be accessed using their index or
key.
An array is created using an array() function in PHP.
Types of Array in PHP
There are mainly three types of array in php
1. Indexed or Numeric Arrays: An array with a numeric index
where values are stored linearly.
• PHP index is represented by number which starts from 0.
• We can store number, string and object in the PHP array.
• All PHP array elements are assigned to an index number by default.
• There are two ways to define indexed array:
Examples of Indexed or Numeric Arrays
<?php
// One way to create an indexed array
$name_one = array("Zack", "Anthony", "Ram", "Salim",
"Raghav");
// Accessing the elements directly
echo "Accessing the 1st array elements directly:\n";
echo $name_one[2], "\n";
echo $name_one[0], "\n";
echo $name_one[4], "\n";
// Second way to create an indexed array
$name_two[0] = "ZACK";
$name_two[1] = "ANTHONY";
$name_two[2] = "RAM";
$name_two[3] = "SALIM";
// Accessing the elements directly
echo "Accessing the 2nd array elements
directly:\n";
echo $name_two[2], "\n";
echo $name_two[0], "\n";
echo $name_two[4], "\n";
?>
OUTPUT
Accessing the 1st array elements directly:
Ram
Zack
Raghav
Accessing the 2nd array elements directly:
RAM
ZACK
RAGHAV
Associative Arrays
• These types of arrays are similar to the indexed arrays but instead of linear
storage, every value can be assigned with a user-defined key of string type.
• We can associate name with each array elements in PHP using => symbol.
• Example:
• <?php
•
• // One way to create an associative array
• $name_one = array("Zack"=>"Zara", "Anthony"=>"Any",
• "Ram"=>"Rani", "Salim"=>"Sara",
• "Raghav"=>"Ravina");
// Second way to create an associative
array
$name_two["zack"] = "zara";
$name_two["anthony"] = "any";
$name_two["ram"] = "rani";
$name_two["salim"] = "sara"; O/P
$name_two["raghav"] = "ravina"; Accessing the elements
// Accessing the elements directly
directly:
echo "Accessing the elements directly:\ zara
n"; sara
echo $name_two["zack"], "\n"; any
echo $name_two["salim"], "\n"; Rani
echo $name_two["anthony"], "\n"; Ravina
echo $name_one["Ram"], "\n";
echo $name_one["Raghav"], "\n";
Multidimensional Arrays
• PHP multidimensional array is also known as array of arrays.
• As the name suggests, every element in this array can be an array and they
can also hold other sub-arrays within.
• Arrays or sub-arrays in multidimensional arrays can be accessed using
multiple dimensions.
• It allows you to store tabular data in an array.
• PHP multidimensional array can be represented in the form of matrix which
is represented by row * column.
Example
<?php
// Defining a multidimensional array
$favorites = array(
array(
"name" => "Dave Punk",
"mob" => "5689741523",
"email" => "
[email protected]",
),
array(
"name" => "Monty Smith",
"mob" => "2584369721",
"email" => "
[email protected]",
),
array(
"name" => "John Flinch",
"mob" => "9875147536",
"email" => "
[email protected]",
// Accessing elements
echo "Dave Punk email-id is: " . $favorites[0]["email"], "\n";
echo "John Flinch mobile number is: " . $favorites[2]
["mob"];
?>
O/P
Dave Punk email-id is: [email protected]
John Flinch mobile number is: 9875147536
