Modify multidimensional array inside a function in php

Question

I want to write a function that modifies an array like this:

function addDataToArray($array,array("data","userdata","username"),"john") { // do something here }

result will be $array["data"]["userdata"]["username"]="john"

I'm aware that it would be much easier to achieve this in normal ways but I need to learn if this can be done. Thanks

What have you already tried? I'm not writing your function for you. — Zarathuztra
– Zarathuztra, Commented Mar 3, 2015 at 16:36
I guess that the thing that you need is the reference notion : php.net/manual/en/language.references.pass.php. If not, please answer Zarathuztra's question, and we'll try to help you. — Niols
– Niols, Commented Mar 3, 2015 at 16:42

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:20:37Z

1

This code should works for you. I was a little bit inspired by this question:

function addDataToArray(&$array,$input_array,$string) { 

    $count = count($input_array)-1;
    $tmp = array($input_array[$count]=>$string);

    for ($i=$count-1;$i>=0;$i--) {
        $arr = array();
        $arr[$input_array[$i]] = $tmp;
        $tmp = $arr;
    }

    $array = array_merge($array, $arr);
}

$array = array(); //or your inicialized $array
addDataToArray($array,array("data","userdata","username"),"john");

var_dump($array);

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:20

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Mar 3, 2015 at 17:49

teo

8011 gold badge6 silver badges15 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Whiteley Over a year ago

Thanks, I got the idea behind it.

Ôrel · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-04 05:36:02Z

1

With recursion

$array = array("foo" => "bar"); 

function addDataToArray(&$a, $path, $val) 
{ 
    if (count($path) == 1) { 
        $path = $path[0]; 
    } 
    if (!is_array($path)) { 
        $a[$path] = $val; 
        return $a; 
    } 
    $b = array(); 
    $a[array_shift($path)] = addDataToArray($b, $path, $val); 
    return $a; 
} 
addDataToArray($array, array("data","userdata","username"),"john"); 
var_dump($array);

Result

array(2) {
  ["foo"]=>
  string(3) "bar"
  ["data"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["userdata"]=>
    array(1) {
      ["username"]=>
      string(4) "john"
    }
  }
}

edited Mar 4, 2015 at 5:36

answered Mar 3, 2015 at 18:24

Ôrel

7,7504 gold badges32 silver badges51 bronze badges

1 Comment

teo Over a year ago

Sorry, but your code doesn't work - it is not generating multidimensional array.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Modify multidimensional array inside a function in php

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related