Merging PHP Arrays for JSON output

Question

I'm having a difficult time trying to get back a single array, which I can then return as JSON.

The Model:

class CoverageLimit extends Eloquent {

    protected $table = 'webapp_limit_tbl';

    public static function index($code,$plan_type,$income_tier){
        $data =  CoverageLimit::where('limitcode', $code)
        ->where('plantypecode', $plan_type)
        ->where('incometiercode', $income_tier)
        ->get(array('limitcode','limit_desc'));
        return print_r($data->toArray());
    }

}

The Controller:

$limits = array();
    foreach($pieces as $coverage_limit) {
    $limits = array_merge($limits, coveragelimit::index($coverage_limit,$plan_type,$income_tier));
//this now works thanks to suggestion below
    } 
return $limits;

Returns:

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [limitcode] => L0001
            [limit_desc] => $1M per claim / $2M annual aggregate
        )

)
Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [limitcode] => L0002
            [limit_desc] => $2M per claim/ $2M annual aggregate
        )

)
[true,true]

The goal is to output the following JSON data via json_encode($limits):

[{"limitcode":"L0001","limit_desc":"$1M per claim / $2M annual aggregate"},{"limitcode":"L0002","limit_desc":"$2M per claim / $2M annual aggregate"}]

I think what I need is a single array like below in order to accomplish this, but I can't seem to make it happen.

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [limitcode] => L0001
            [limit_desc] => $1M per claim / $2M annual aggregate
        ),
    [1] => Array
        (
            [limitcode] => L0002
            [limit_desc] => $2M per claim/ $2M annual aggregate
        )

)

I would be grateful for any help on how I could merge this return into a single array for valid json output. Or if there is a way to return it from the foreach as one array. Thanks.

Daniel Williams · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-07 21:42:24Z

1

First, do not use return print_r($data->toArray());

That is incorrect. Just do return $data->toArray() and it should work just fine.

The problem is that print_r returns a boolean and outputs to stdout a text representation of your data structure. That is why you see that annoying [true, true] at the end of your output example. The array you are attempting to json_encode is actually just an array with two values of true returned from print_r.

answered Aug 7, 2013 at 21:42

Daniel Williams

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1 Comment

suncoastkid Over a year ago

Thank you, that was the ticket!

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