Storing Variable Names in an Array

Question

So I have a List of Variables

$TestData1="Hello";
$TestData2="";
$TestData3="0";
$TestData4="Yes";
$TestData5=" ";
$TestData6="No";

I want to make a function that will run all these variables through a filter. I want to make this a loop that checks all the variables in one shot. I had the idea of storing the variable names in an array. This is shown below.

$TestArray=array("TestData1", "TestData2", "TestData3", "TestData4","TestData5","TestData6");

So my main question is how would I take these names in the array and run a loop that checks to see if a certain condition is met. Example below.

foreach ($TestArray as $Data):

   $VariableToTestConnditions="$".$Data;



endforeach;

I know that statement doesn't work, but it is all I could think of. The out come of this would be if the variable value =="Yes" then is would change the original variable's value to "N/A". So after it checks all the variables, it would change $TestData4 to "N/A".

if you need to keep the name of the variable (eg TestData1), just use an associative array: $TestArray = array("TestData1" => "Hello", "TestData2" => "", ....); — kennypu
– kennypu, Commented Aug 23, 2013 at 2:17
@kennypu That does not allow me to change the original value of the variable. Thank you for the suggestion. How would I use the Name of the value as a Variable? — Kevin Weber
– Kevin Weber, Commented Aug 23, 2013 at 2:18
@KevinWeber yes it does. the question is: do you need to have all those separate variables? if not, you can just use an associative array and keep track of them there. I'll post an answer using it. — kennypu
– kennypu, Commented Aug 23, 2013 at 2:19

kennypu · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-23 02:22:18Z

6

instead of having an array of the names, it would make more sense to have an associative array (key value pairs):

$TestArray = array(
    "TestData1" => "Hello",
    "TestData2" => "",
    "TestData3" => "0",
    "TestData4" => "Yes",
    "TestData5" => " ",
    "TestData6" => "No"
);

now if you wanted to test a variable:

foreach($TestArray as $key => $value) {
    if($VariableToTestConnditions == $value) {
        //do something 
    }
}

if you wanted to change the value of a testdata:

$TestArray["TestData1"] = "Good Bye";

this way is much neater and simpler.

answered Aug 23, 2013 at 2:22

kennypu

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score 2 · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-23 02:29:27Z

2

i used echo to demo the syntax, you can use what you like

$TestData1="Hello";
$TestData2="";
$TestData3="0";
$TestData4="Yes";
$TestData5=" ";
$TestData6="No";

$TestArray=array("TestData1", "TestData2", "TestData3", "TestData4","TestData5","TestData6");


foreach($TestArray as $a){

echo ${$a};
 //or 
echo $$a;

}

edited Aug 23, 2013 at 2:29

answered Aug 23, 2013 at 2:21

user557846

Comments

Community · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-23 02:23:02Z

2

Use the two-dollar sign.

See PHP variable variables: http://php.net/manual/en/language.variables.variable.php

foreach ($TestArray as $Data):

   $VariableToTestConnditions=$$Data;

endforeach;

answered Aug 23, 2013 at 2:23

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