Adding array to an existing array by using array

Adding two arrays by using array_merge

We can add array ( one or more ) to an existing array by using array_merge function in PHP. By this two arrays can be joined and one resulting array can be generated.

$result = array_merge($array1, $array2,...);

We will try with an example.

Example with two arrays

$first=array('a','b','c','d','e');
$second=array('f','g','h');
$result=array_merge($first,$second);
while (list ($key, $val) = each ($result)) {
echo "$key -> $val <br>";
}

Output is here

0 -> a 
1 -> b 
2 -> c 
3 -> d 
4 -> e 
5 -> f 
6 -> g 
7 -> h

With some common elements

$first=array('a','b','c','d','e');
$second=array('h','d','b','f'); //with some common elements 
$result=array_merge($first,$second);
while (list ($key, $val) = each ($result)) {
echo "$key -> $val <br>";
}

Output is here

0 -> a 
1 -> b 
2 -> c 
3 -> d 
4 -> e 
5 -> h 
6 -> d 
7 -> b 
8 -> f

With numeric keys

We can preserve the keys of the first array.

$first=array(1=>'First',2=>'Second',3=>'Third');
$second=array(1=>'fourth',2=>'Fifth',3=>'Sixth');

$result=array_merge($first,$second);

while (list ($key, $val) = each ($result)) {
echo "$key -> $val <br>";
}

The output is here.

0 -> First 
1 -> Second 
2 -> Third 
3 -> fourth 
4 -> Fifth 
5 -> Sixth

Keys are renumbered and incremented starting from 0.

associative array with literal keys

$first=array('Fruits1' =>'Banana','Fruits2'=>'Mango','Fruits3'=>'Apple');
$second=array('new_fruit1'=> 'Strawberry','new_fruit2'=>'Grapes');
$result=array_merge($first,$second);
while (list ($key, $val) = each ($result)) {
echo "$key -> $val <br>";
}

Output is here

Fruits1 -> Banana 
Fruits2 -> Mango 
Fruits3 -> Apple 
new_fruit1 -> Strawberry 
new_fruit2 -> Grapes

With common literal keys

$first=array('Fruits1' =>'Banana','Fruits2'=>'Mango','Fruits3'=>'Apple');
$second=array('Fruits1'=> 'Strawberry','Fruits2'=>'Grapes');
$result=array_merge($first,$second);
while (list ($key, $val) = each ($result)) {
echo "$key -> $val <br>";
}

Output is here

Fruits1 -> Strawberry 
Fruits2 -> Grapes 
Fruits3 -> Apple

Keys of the first array will be retained.

Adding by union of two arrays ( Using operand + )

We can add two arrays by using union command like this .

$result=$first + $second;

If we use this in place of array_merge() ( in above code ) then the output will be like this

1 -> First 
2 -> Second 
3 -> Third

Let us change the second array and see the result.

$first=array(1=>'First',2=>'Second',3=>'Third');
$second=array(4=>'fourth',5=>'Fifth',6=>'Sixth');

$result=$first + $second;

while (list ($key, $val) = each ($result)) {
echo "$key -> $val <br>";
}

Output is here

1 -> First 
2 -> Second 
3 -> Third 
4 -> fourth 
5 -> Fifth 
6 -> Sixth

You can read more array Operators.

When to use array_merge and array_push

We will be using array_merge when we want to add one array to an existing array. But to add elements to an existing array we will be using array_push function in PHP

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