Description
array
array ( [mixed ...] )
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.
Note:
array() is a language construct used to
represent literal arrays, and not a regular function.
Syntax "index => values", separated by commas, define index
and values. index may be of type string or numeric. 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
index are defined, the last overwrite the first.
Having a trailing comma after the last defined array entry, while
unusual, is a valid syntax.
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")
);
?>
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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
) |
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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!
?>
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See also array_pad(),
list(),
count(),
foreach, and
range().
