How to get array values from the string in PHP?

Question

I have a sting, In that string, my array values are stored. How can I get array value from the string? Is there any predefined function in PHP or will achieve using REGEX?

$rule ="array(
array('parameter'=> 'signature name', 'values'=>'RNSOC023', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND'),
array('parameter'=> 'DestinationZone', 'values'=>'l3-internet', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND'),
array('parameter'=> 'Application', 'values'=>'ftp,sftp', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND')
)";

if I do print_r($rule); it's giving string value only same as above. But I want output like

Array ( [0] => Array ( [parameter] => signature name [values] => RNSOC023 [condition] => EQUALS [rule type] => AND ) [1] => Array ( [parameter] => DestinationZone [values] => l3-internet [condition] => EQUALS [rule type] => AND ) [2] => Array ( [parameter] => Application [values] => ftp,sftp [condition] => EQUALS [rule type] => AND ) )

you theoretical could use the evil eval. But before going that direction: Where is the string coming from? — Jeff
– Jeff, Commented Mar 29, 2018 at 11:16
That are rules defined by machine and stored as a string in db — Siddhu
– Siddhu, Commented Mar 29, 2018 at 11:18
Then you would have to eval it. But I owuld suggest you definitely change the way it is stored. Store it as JSON or serialized, because that can be easily hydrated to the original type (so an array). — ChristianM
– ChristianM, Commented Mar 29, 2018 at 11:19
If the values stored in db won't change anymore I suggest to run a 'converting' script once to get usable values into your db. If that 'machine' keeps updating/adding to db and you cannot change that - eval is the left over choice. Maybe think about suing the 'developer' who made the machine do that... — Jeff
– Jeff, Commented Mar 29, 2018 at 11:27

Tarun Narula · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-29 11:47:25Z

3

Finally got the solution, Try this:

$rule ="array(
    array('parameter'=> 'signature name', 'values'=>'RNSOC023', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND'),
    array('parameter'=> 'DestinationZone', 'values'=>'l3-internet', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND'),
    array('parameter'=> 'Application', 'values'=>'ftp,sftp', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND')
    )";
    $returnValue = '';
    eval("\$returnValue = $rule;");
    print_r($returnValue);

edited Mar 29, 2018 at 11:47

answered Mar 29, 2018 at 11:25

Tarun Narula

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2 Comments

Jeff Over a year ago

have you tried it?? Results in array(1) { [0]=> string(324) "array( array('parameter'=>...

Siddhu Over a year ago

Again remain content getting string only

Nick · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-29 12:15:28Z

eval() is EVIL! It renders your code open to all sorts of security issues and should be avoided at all costs. Try this instead:

$rule ="array(
array('parameter'=> 'signature name', 'values'=>'RNSOC023', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND'),
array('parameter'=> 'DestinationZone', 'values'=>'l3-internet', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND'),
array('parameter'=> 'Application', 'values'=>'ftp,sftp', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND')
)";
preg_match_all("/(?:array\()('.*?'\s*=>\s*'.*?'\s*)+(?:\))/", $rule, $matches);
$rulearray = array();
$i = 0;
foreach ($matches[1] as $value) {
    preg_match_all("/('.*?'\s*=>\s*'.*?')/", $value, $m);
    foreach ($m[1] as $e) {
        list ($k, $v) = preg_split('/\s*=>\s*/', $e);
        $rulearray[$i][$k] = $v;
    }
    $i++;
}
print_r($rulearray);

Output:

Array ( [0] => Array ( ['parameter'] => 'signature name'
                       ['values'] => 'RNSOC023'
                       ['condition'] => 'EQUALS'
                       ['rule type'] => 'AND' ) 
        [1] => Array ( ['parameter'] => 'DestinationZone' 
                       ['values'] => 'l3-internet' 
                       ['condition'] => 'EQUALS'
                       ['rule type'] => 'AND' ) 
        [2] => Array ( ['parameter'] => 'Application'
                       ['values'] => 'ftp,sftp'
                       ['condition'] => 'EQUALS'
                       ['rule type'] => 'AND' )
)

thanks dude, just learnt a new way to keep an array in string format <3

Viraj Amarasinghe - Resiliz · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-29 11:36:54Z

0

The approach you are using to keep array of data in a database is wrong, You should use json string format in the database and when getting data, you can json_decode function in php to convert into array. Try to convert that array into json string and store in the db. It's the best practise. That's why you are getting these types of issues.

edited Mar 29, 2018 at 11:36

answered Mar 29, 2018 at 11:22

Viraj Amarasinghe - Resiliz

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2 Comments

Siddhu Over a year ago

Agree, But in my scenario, I have to do like this only

Viraj Amarasinghe - Resiliz Over a year ago

why? where is the place that you are going to save array ? Or is it existing from beginning ?

JamesBond · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-29 11:47:22Z

0

So basically you would want json_encode() to make the array. What I tested now was the following:

$rule = array(array('parameter1'=> 'signature name', 'values'=>'RNSOC023', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND'), 1 => array('parameter2'=> 'DestinationZone', 'values'=>'l3-internet', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND'), 2 => array('parameter'=> 'Application', 'values'=>'ftp,sftp', 'condition'=>'EQUALS', 'rule type'=>'AND'));
$jr = json_encode($rule);
$jd = json_decode($jr, true);
print $jd[0]['values'];

The above worked, and tested on my environment.

For more information on json_encode(); and json_decode();

If you run print_r($jd); you will get an output of:

Array ( [0] => Array ( [parameter1] => signature name [values] => RNSOC023 [condition] => EQUALS [rule type] => AND ) [1] => Array ( [parameter2] => DestinationZone [values] => l3-internet [condition] => EQUALS [rule type] => AND ) [2] => Array ( [parameter] => Application [values] => ftp,sftp [condition] => EQUALS [rule type] => AND ) )

edited Mar 29, 2018 at 11:47

answered Mar 29, 2018 at 11:41

JamesBond

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1 Comment

Siddhu Over a year ago

You have to take in the string. you removed the quotations

Nawin · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-29 11:51:56Z

0

The code will be executed in the scope of the code calling eval(). Thus any variables defined or changed in the eval() call will remain visible after it terminates. For More Info HERE

eval("\$rule = $rule;");
print_r($rule);

edited Mar 29, 2018 at 11:51

answered Mar 29, 2018 at 11:20

Nawin

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