Arrays in PHP are versatile data structures that allow you to store and manage multiple values within a single variable.
In this guide, we’ll explore three types of arrays: Indexed arrays, Associative arrays, and Multi-dimensional arrays, providing examples to demonstrate their usage.
1. Indexed Arrays
Indexed arrays use numeric indices to access their elements, with indexing starting from 0. They are declared using the `array()` function.
Syntax
$directions = array("East", "West", "North", "South");Example
<?php
$directions = array("East", "West", "North", "South");
$length = count($directions);
for($i=0; $i < $length; $i++) {
echo "$directions[$i]\n";
}
?>
Output:
East
West
North
South2. Associative Arrays
Associative arrays use key-value pairs, allowing you to access elements using keys. They are declared using the `array()` function with explicit key-value assignments.
Syntax
$capitals = array(
"Japan" => "Tokyo",
"India" => "New Delhi",
"United Kingdom" => "London",
"United States" => "Washington, D.C.",
"China" => "Beijing"
);Example
<?php
$capitals = array(
"Japan" => "Tokyo",
"India" => "New Delhi",
"United Kingdom" => "London",
"United States" => "Washington, D.C.",
"China" => "Beijing"
);
foreach($capitals as $key => $value) {
echo "Capital of ". $key . " is " . $value. "\n";
}
?>Output:
Capital of Japan is Tokyo
Capital of India is New Delhi
Capital of United Kingdom is London
Capital of United States is Washington, D.C.
Capital of China is Beijing3. Multi-dimensional Arrays
Multi-dimensional arrays can store other arrays, creating a structured hierarchy. A common example is the two-dimensional array.
Syntax
$num = array(
array(1,2,3),
array(4,5,6),
array(7,8,9)
);Example
<?php
$num = array(
array(1,2,3),
array(4,5,6),
array(7,8,9)
);
for ($i = 0; $i < 3; $i++){
for ($j=0; $j <3; $j++){
echo($num[$i][$j]);
echo("\t");
}
echo("\n");
}
?>Output:
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9Mastering these array types empowers you to efficiently organize and manipulate data in PHP. Arrays are fundamental in programming, providing the flexibility to handle complex datasets and build dynamic applications.
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