array_search() : Check if given value is available inside array and returns the key if available otherwise False

This function Searches for presence of an input value.

Returns the key of matching element ( present ) , returns false if not found.

bool = array_search ($search, $input_array,$strict);

$search : Required , value to search inside the $input_array.
$input_array : Required , array inside which the value will be searched.
$strict :Optional : If set to TRUE then strict type comparison is performed.

Output is the corresponding key if value is found inside array , otherwise FALSE.

arra_search() returns the key of first occurrence of the value, to get the keys of all the matching values we can use array_keys() function

Example 1

$input=array(1,2,3,4);

if(array_search(2,$input)){
echo "Value is available ";	
}else{
echo "Value is NOT available ";	
}

Output is here.

Value is available

Example 2

$input=array('One' =>1,'Two'=>2,'Three'=>3,'Four'=>'Fourth');

if(array_search('Three',$input)){
echo "Value is available ";	
}else{
echo "Value is NOT available ";	
}

Output is here.

Value is available

Example 3 , returning the matching key

$input=array('One' =>'First','Two'=>'Second','Three'=>'Third','Fourth');

$search_string='Third'; // Change this value
if(array_search($search_string,$input)){
echo "Value <i>$search_string</i> is available inside array<br>";	
echo "Marching Key is : ".array_search($search_string,$input);
}else{
echo "Value <i>$search_string</i> is NOT available inside array <br>";	
}

Output is here

Value Third is available inside array
Marching Key is : Three

More functions to search an array.

Function	Details
in_array()	Search for value inside Array. Returns TRUE or FALSE
array_key_exists()	Returns TEUE if key is found inside, FALSE otherwise
array_keys()	Array of keys for matching values, FALSE otherwise

Example 4

Here is an array of students where name of the student is key and mark is stored as value. Collect the highest and lowest mark ( values here ) along with the student names ( keys here ) . Used array_search() to collect the key ( student name )

$student=array('Ron'=>15,'Geek'=>25,'Alex'=>13,'Ravi'=>14);

echo "highest mark : ". max($student); // output 25
echo "<br>";
echo "Student got highest mark:".array_search(max($student),$student);
echo "<br>";
echo "Lowest mark : ". min($student); // output 13
echo "<br>";
echo "Student got Lowest mark:".array_search(min($student),$student);

Output is here.

highest mark : 25
Student got highest mark : Geek
Lowest mark : 13
Student got Lowest mark : Alex

Difference between arrays considering values
Array REFERENCE

Subhendu Mohapatra

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array_search(): searching for value inside

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3 , returning the matching key

Example 4

Subhendu Mohapatra