How can I traverse a multidimensional array using an array of keys?

Question

Let's say I have an arbitrary array of keys:

$keys = array('foo', 'bar', 'baaz');

I'd like to use that array of keys to traverse a multidimensional array $values such that each element in the $keys array is one level of the $values array. For example, given the $keys array above, I'm looking for the equivalent of:

$values['foo']['bar']['baaz']

or:

$values[$keys[0]][$keys[1]][$keys[2]]

But I won't know what's in the $keys array or how large it is, so I couldn't hard code it like this.

Is there an elegant way to do this?

deceze · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-05 07:57:12Z

3

$value = $values;
foreach ($keys as $key) {
    $value = $value[$key];
}
echo $value;

answered Nov 5, 2012 at 7:57

deceze♦

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1 Comment

user113292 Over a year ago

facepalm of course! And if I wanted to use it for assignment, it should be as simple as adding a reference operator to $value[$key], right?

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