PHP array functions

PHP Arrays: Basic Example

PHP arrays store multiple values in one variable and support both integer and string keys. Start with a simple indexed or associative array, then use the linked functions below to inspect, transform, sort, search and combine array data.

$fruits = ['Apple', 'Orange', 'Mango'];
echo $fruits[0]; // Apple

Use square-bracket syntax for new arrays; the older array() syntax remains valid when you encounter it in existing PHP code.

PHP arrays are powerful tools for storing multiple values within a single variable. This capability allows developers to organize data efficiently, accessing elements through indexes, which can be either numeric or string-based keys. An array is essentially a collection of variables, each referred to as an element. These elements can be directly retrieved using their specific indexes, simplifying data manipulation and retrieval in PHP programming.

Array Creation and Initialization

Function	Details
Creating an Array	How to create and assign keys
array_fill_keys()	Create array by filling keys and value
array_fill()	Filling an array with value
array_column()	Displaying one column data of an array
Multidimensional Array	Creating and displaying elements of Multidimensional array
range()	Create an array over a range with an optional step value
explode()	Split a string using a fixed delimiter and create an array

Displaying, Checking and counting elements

Function	Details
array_count_values	calculate the frequency of occurrence of elements inside a array
Displaying elements	Listing all elements of the array
array_is_list()	checks if an array is a list
is_array	To check the variable is array or not
array_size()	How many elements are present inside the array? We can find out by count or sizeof() function.
max() / min()	Find the maximum and minimum values in an array
array_rand()	Select one or more random keys from an array
array_sum	Total value or sum of the elements present inside an array
shuffle()	Randomize the order of array elements for non-security use

Array Modification

Function	Details
array_chunk()	Split an array into chunks
array_change_key_case()	Changing keys to upper case or lower case chars
array_splice()	Modifying Arrays in PHP
array_replace()	Replace the values of the array
array_replace_recursive()	Merge Arrays Recursively
array_walk()	Passing user defined function to each element of an array
array_walk_recursive()	Traversing multi-dimensional array

Array Sorting

Function	Details
Sorting	Sorting all elements of an array by sort command
array_multisort()	Sorting Multiple Arrays
usort()	Sort the elements using a user-defined function

Array Searching

Function	Details
in_array()	Check the presence of an element inside an array. Returns True or False
array_search()	Returns the key if matching found, FALSE otherwise
array_key_exists()	Search Key, returns TRUE if found, FALSE otherwise
array_keys()	Returns an array of keys
array_key_first()	Get the first key of the array (>= PHP 7.3)
array_key_last()	Get the last key of the array (>= PHP 7.3)

Array Filtering and Extraction

Function	Details
array_filter()	Creating new array using filter (callback) function
array_reduce()	Iteratively reduces an array to a single value
array_map()	Apply native or user-defined functions to each element
array_unique()	Set of unique values from an array

Array Merging and Combining

Function	Details
array_merge()	Add one array to another
array_merge_recursive()	Merge arrays recursively
array_combine()	Create an array with keys from one and values from another

Array Intersection

Function	Details
array_diff()	Generate a third array by differentiating two arrays
array_diff_assoc()	Generate a third array by differentiating two arrays (keys and values)
array_intersect()	Intersection of arrays considering values only
array_intersect_assoc()	Intersection of arrays considering keys and values
array_intersect_key()	Intersection of arrays considering keys only
array_intersect_uassoc()	Intersection of arrays considering keys & values through callback function
array_intersect_ukey()	Intersection of arrays considering keys through callback function
array_uintersect	intersection of arrays with Custom Comparison
array_udiff_uassoc	compare arrays based on custom rules
array_uintersect_uassoc	Intersect Arrays with Custom Data and Key Comparisons
array_uintersect_assoc	array intersections with custom value comparison

Array Difference

Function	Details
array_diff_uassoc	Resultant third array by differentiating values and (keys through callback function)
array_diff_ukey	Resultant third array by comparing keys through callback function
array_udiff	Resultant third array by comparing values through callback function
array_diff_key	We can generate a resultant third array by differentiating two arrays by considering keys only

Array Adding & Removing Elements

Function	Details
array_pop()	Removing last element of the array
array_shift()	Removing first element of the array
array_unset()	Removing element from any position
array_push()	Adding elements at the end
array_unshift()	Adding elements at the beginning

Array Traversing & Navigation

Function	Details
Current	Get the current element of the array
Next	Move to the next element
Previous	Move to the previous element
End	Move to the last element
Reset	Move to the first element

Array Form Handling and Session Management

Function	Details
Array checkbox	Getting checkbox value using array
http_build_query	generate query string using elements to pass through URL
Session array	create a session array and carry same data across the pages.
function	Passing and returning array from a function
Cookies	Cookies array adding and deleting elements

Subhendu Mohapatra

Author & Instructor at plus2net

I write and maintain practical tutorials on Python, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, and web development at plus2net. The tutorials focus on clear explanations, working examples, and code that readers can test and adapt while learning.

About the author Watch on YouTube

Connect:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here