json_encode after array_unique returning associative array

Question

$a = array("pear","apple","apple","ball","cat");
$u = array_unique($a);
echo json_encode($u);

The output appears as: {"0":"pear","1":"apple","3":"ball","4":"cat"}

I need a non-associative array as output as: ["apple","ball","cat","pear"].

Please tell why you need the non-associative array over the standard json-encoded one. The "problem" you're facing may be a non-issue really. — STT LCU
– STT LCU, Commented Jul 26, 2013 at 8:23
Then loop through your array and build a json string manually — Ahmad
– Ahmad, Commented Jul 26, 2013 at 8:23
@Ahmad: Building anything manually is usually a horrible idea, because people cannot be bothered to do it correctly. That's why we recommend json_encode, http_build_query, htmlspecialchars etc. — Jon
– Jon, Commented Jul 26, 2013 at 8:26

Jon · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-26 08:25:00Z

11

Reindex the array with array_values before encoding it:

echo json_encode(array_values($u));

answered Jul 26, 2013 at 8:25

Jon

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6 Comments

Prasanth Bendra Over a year ago

But that will be again the same array as before rite ? Correct me if I am wrong

Jon Over a year ago

@PrasanthBendra: No, it won't. But the result you get without is dependent on which duplicate elements array_unique chooses to remove, which is AFAIK not deterministic from a PHP userland perspective. If it removes the second "apple" you don't need to reindex, but if it removes the first you do. You can't control this, so reindexing is necessary to be safe.

Sawal Maskey Over a year ago

Reindexing seems to be the only solution. It would have been easier if array_unique() allowed to make a choice whether or not to preserve original index value.

Jon Over a year ago

@smaske: What would be the point? It's extremely easy to reindex if you need to.

Tomasz Madeyski Over a year ago

You should check stackoverflow.com/a/25296770/2393077 for explanation why it's happening

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