PHP array() Function

Quiz

Definition and Usage

The array() function is used to create a PHP array. This function can be used to create indexed arrays or associative arrays. PHP arrays could be single dimensional or multi-dimensional.

Syntax

Syntax to create PHP indexed arrays:

$a = array(value1, value2, value3, ...)

Syntax to create PHP associative arrays:

$a = array(key1 => value1, key2 => value2...)

Parameters

Sr.No

Parameter & Description

1

key(Optional)

It specifies the key, of type numeric or string. If not set, an integer key is generated, starting at 0

2

value(Required)

It specifies the value

Return Values

This function returns an array of the parameters.

PHP Version

This function was first introduced as part of core PHP 4.0.0.

Example

Following example creates an empty PHP array:

<?php
   $abc = array();
   print_r($abc);
?>

This will produce following result −

Array ()

Example

Following example creates a PHP indexed array with few elements:

<?php
   $abc = array("A", "B", "C");
   print_r($abc);
?>

This will produce following result −

Array
(
    [0] => A
    [1] => B
    [2] => C
)

Example

Following example creates a PHP associative array with numbers as keys:

<?php
   $abc = array(1 => "One", 2 => "Two", 3 => "Three");
   print_r($abc);
?>

This will produce following result −

Array
(
    [1] => One
    [2] => Two
    [3] => Three
)

Example

Following example creates a PHP associative array with string as keys:

<?php
   $abc = array("one" => "One", "two" => "Two", "three" => "Three");
   print_r($abc);
?>

This will produce following result −

Array
(
    [one] => One
    [two] => Two
    [three] => Three
)

Example

Following example shows how to add more values in an existing PHP Array:

<?php
   $abc = array(1 => "One", 2 => "Two", 3 => "Three");
   print_r($abc);
   
   /* Add two more value in above array */
   $abc[4] = "Four";
   $abc[5] = "Five";
   print_r($abc);
?>

This will produce following result −

Array
(
    [1] => One
    [2] => Two
    [3] => Three
)

Array
(
    [1] => One
    [2] => Two
    [3] => Three
    [4] => Four
    [5] => Five
)

Example

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.

<?php
   $fruits = array (
      "fruits"  => array("a" => "orange", "b" => "banana", "c" => "apple"),
      "numbers" => array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6),
      "holes" => array("first", 5 => "second", "third")
   );
   print_r($fruits);
?>

This will produce following result −

Array
(
    [fruits] => Array
        (
            [a] => orange
            [b] => banana
            [c] => apple
        )

    [numbers] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
            [1] => 2
            [2] => 3
            [3] => 4
            [4] => 5
            [5] => 6
        )

    [holes] => Array
        (
            [0] => first
            [5] => second
            [6] => third
        )

)

Example

To delete an individual array element or complete array, you can use the unset()function:

<?php
   $abc = array(1 => "One", 2 => "Two", 3 => "Three");
   print_r($abc);

   /* Now let's delete element with index 2*/
   unset( $abc[2] );
   print_r($abc);
   
   /* Now let's delete complete array */
   unset($abc);
   print_r($abc);
?>

This will produce following result −

Array
(
    [1] => One
    [2] => Two
    [3] => Three
)

Array
(
    [1] => One
    [3] => Three
)

PHP Notice:  Undefined variable: abc in main.php on line 13

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