PHP Arrays

PHP array is an ordered map (contains value on the basis of key). It is used to hold multiple values of similar type in a single variable.

Advantage of PHP Array

  • Less Code: We don't need to define multiple variables.
  • Easy to traverse: By the help of single loop, we can traverse all the elements of an array.
  • Sorting: We can sort the elements of array.

    • PHP Array Types

    There are 3 types of array in PHP.

    PHP Indexed Array

    PHP index is represented by number which starts from 0. We can store number, string and object in the PHP array. All PHP array elements are assigned to an index number by default.

    There are two ways to define indexed array:

    1st way:

    $season=array("summer","winter","spring","autumn");

    2nd way:

  • $season[0]="summer";
  • $season[1]="winter";
  • $season[2]="spring";
  • $season[3]="autumn";

    • File: array1.php

    
<?php  
$season=array("summer","winter","spring","autumn");  
echo "Season are: $season[0], $season[1], $season[2] and $season[3]";  
?>

    Output

    Season are: summer, winter, spring and autumn

    File: array2.php

    PHP Example

    
<?php  
$season[0]="summer";  
$season[1]="winter";  
$season[2]="spring";  
$season[3]="autumn";  
echo "Season are: $season[0], $season[1], $season[2] and $season[3]";  
?>

    Output

    Season are: summer, winter, spring and autumn

    PHP Associative Array

    We can associate name with each array elements in PHP using => symbol.

    There are two ways to define associative array:

    1st way:

    $salary=array("Sonoo"=>"350000","John"=>"450000","Kartik"=>"200000");

    2nd way:

  • $salary["Sonoo"]="350000";
  • $salary["John"]="450000";
  • $salary["Kartik"]="200000";

    • File: arrayassociative1.php

    PHP Example

    
<?php    
$salary=array("Sonoo"=>"350000","John"=>"450000","Kartik"=>"200000");    
echo "Sonoo salary: ".$salary["Sonoo"]."
    ";  
echo "John salary: ".$salary["John"]."
    ";  
echo "Kartik salary: ".$salary["Kartik"]."
    ";  
?>

    Output

    Sonoo salary: 350000 John salary: 450000 Kartik salary: 200000

    File: arrayassociative2.php

    PHP Example

    
<?php    
$salary["Sonoo"]="350000";    
$salary["John"]="450000";    
$salary["Kartik"]="200000";    
echo "Sonoo salary: ".$salary["Sonoo"]."
    ";  
echo "John salary: ".$salary["John"]."
    ";  
echo "Kartik salary: ".$salary["Kartik"]."
    ";  
?>

    Output

    Sonoo salary: 350000 John salary: 450000 Kartik salary: 200000