Building array from string values

Question

I have a table that has a column with data stored as comma-separated strings.

I need to output the table contents and build an array from these values (don't need any keys).

I need to remove duplicates and sort it in alphabetical order.

$arr = array();

foreach ($myTable AS $t) {
    $str = $t->myStr;
    array_push($arr, $str);
} 

array_unique($arr);
asort($arr);

I did print_r($arr); Now I see values but they are still an array of strings. Something like this:

Array ( [1] => Chinese, Asian Fusion, Food Trucks [0] => Chinese, Asian Fusion, Gluten-Free [2] => Chinese, Barbeque [3] => Dim Sum, Seafood, Soup )

What I would like to see is:

Array ('Asian Fusion', 'Barbeque', 'Chinese', 'Food Trucks', 'Gluten-Free'...);

1) Please add a little example with some data what you have and in which form do you want to get it? (multidimensional array, one dimensional array, ...) 2) array_unique() should be reassigned to $arr — Rizier123
– Rizier123, Commented Mar 6, 2016 at 17:41
Besides from @Rizier123's comment on array_unique, there is no attempt to output anything in your code. Please, take a look at print_r: use it like so print_r($arr); — FirstOne
– FirstOne, Commented Mar 6, 2016 at 17:41

fusion3k · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-06 18:16:47Z

3

You have to change this line:

array_push( $arr, $str );

in:

$arr = array_merge( $arr, explode( ',', $str) );

and this:

array_unique( $arr );

in:

$arr = array_unique( $arr );

array_push() add the comma-separated string to the array. Using explode() you obtain an array with single values, then you have to merge this array with main array. You can't use array_push() with exploded array, because using it you will obtain a multidimensional array ( [ [Chinese,Asian,...] , [Chinese,Asian,...] ] ).

array_unique() doesn't change the original array, but it return the modified array, so you have to catch the result in a variable.

Edit:

The delimiter must be the complete separation string.
So, if your string is like this:

Chinese, Asian Fusion, Food Trucks
        ^             ^

you have to use:

$arr = array_merge( $arr, explode( ', ', $str) );
//                                   ^

edited Mar 6, 2016 at 18:16

answered Mar 6, 2016 at 18:02

fusion3k

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1 Comment

FirstOne Over a year ago

explode(', ', ... since it looks like there is also a space in there.

Arthur · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-06 18:11:12Z

2

$arr = array();

foreach ($myTable AS $t) {
    $str = $t->myStr;
    $arr = array_merge($arr, explode(', ', $str))
} 

$arr = array_unique($arr);
asort($arr);

print_r($arr);

edited Mar 6, 2016 at 18:11

answered Mar 6, 2016 at 17:56

Arthur

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2 Comments

Arthur Over a year ago

use explode for extract separated data from string

FirstOne Over a year ago

explode(', ', ... since it looks like there is also a space in there.

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