Displaying an PHP Array in a readable format

Question

I'm a newbie when it comes to PHP, so I'm sorry if this is too simple and obvious.

I have a webform that users can add input fields to dynamically. When the user clicks submit all the input fields are saved into an array. When I use the print_r command I get an array that looks like this:

Array 
    ( 
    [1] => Array ( [tc] => 00:10 [feedback] => good ) 
    [2] => Array ( [tc] => 00:20 [feedback] => bad ) 
    [3] => Array ( [tc] => 00:21 [feedback] => Bigger text ) 
    )

The code I use to pull the data into the array is:

if (!empty($_POST)) { //The values have been posted
    $elements = array();
    foreach ($_POST as $key => $val) { //For every posted values
        $frags = explode("_", $key); //we separate the attribute name from the number
        $id = $frags[1]; //That is the id
        $attr = $frags[0]; //And that is the attribute name
        if (!empty($val)) {
            //We then store the value of this attribute for this element.
            $elements[$id][$attr] = htmlentities($val);
        }
    }
}

The way I would like to display the data is like this:

01: 00:10 - good<br />
02: 00:20 - bad<br />
03: 00:21 - Bigger text<br />

The form I am trying to make can be found at http://ridefreemedia.com.au/test

It looks like you can avoid the work in building the multi-dimensional array from POST by simply specifying a multi-dimansion array in teh input fields like <input name="id[]" ... /> rather than <input name="id_key" ... /> — Mike Brant
– Mike Brant, Commented Nov 11, 2013 at 23:33

Jerska · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-11 23:34:59Z

1

You have to iterate on the array, as such:

$arr = Array( 
    1 => Array ( "tc" => "00:10", "feedback" => "good" ),
    2 => Array ( "tc" => "00:20", "feedback"=> "bad" ),
    3 => Array ( "tc" => "00:21", "feedback" => "Bigger text" ) 
  );

foreach ($arr as $k => $info) {
  echo $k . ': ' . $info['tc'] . ' - ' . $info['feedback'] . '<br />'; 
}

Here the output will be:

1: 00:10 - good
2: 00:20 - bad
3: 00:21 - Bigger text

2 notables things, as I believe you're discovering PHP:

. concatenates strings
foreach ($array as $k => $v) iterates over the array.
For each line, it puts the key of the line in $k, and the value in $v. Here, $k = 1 and $info = Array ( "tc" => "00:10", "feedback" => "good" ) on the first iteration.

answered Nov 11, 2013 at 23:34

Jerska

12.1k4 gold badges38 silver badges54 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

AGoberg Over a year ago

Fantastic :) Thats exactly what I've been looking for. Yeah I'm completely new to PHP, so still trying to learn the basics. Any ideas about where I would look if I want to send this to an email address? As in: The user fills out the form, clicks submit, the data is displayed to the user to confirm the data, then the user can click submit again to email the data to my email address..

Jerska Over a year ago

You need to have a look at php's documentation: php.net/manual/function.mail.php You'll find a lot of answers to your question there. :)

GluePear · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-11 23:29:59Z

0

It's not exactly what you're after, but <pre> would prettify it a bit.

echo '<pre>';
print_r($val);
echo '</pre>';

answered Nov 11, 2013 at 23:29

GluePear

7,77321 gold badges72 silver badges127 bronze badges

Comments

Tarek Hassoun · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-11 23:31:55Z

0

print_r won't do, as you can see it outputs the meta data of the array. try adding the field to a string and use echo to output the strings into the html code.

answered Nov 11, 2013 at 23:31

Tarek Hassoun

134 bronze badges

Comments

zsaat14 · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-20 21:48:42Z

0

Just call the array like this $array_name[1]. Or, if the array value has a key, $array_name['key_name'].

edited Dec 20, 2013 at 21:48

answered Nov 11, 2013 at 23:29

zsaat14

1,1182 gold badges10 silver badges20 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Displaying an PHP Array in a readable format

4 Answers 4

2 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

2 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related