Display hierarchical, multidimensional array as a nested list (recursion)

Question

I am faced with this challenge:

I need to display data from a hierarchical, multi-dimensional array as a nested list. I want to use recursion to do it as I do not know how many levels the list might have. This is the data I am working on (simplified):

array (size=54)
  0 => 
    object(stdClass)[786]
      public 'term_id' => string '1' (length=3)
      public 'name' => string 'All' (length=25)
      public 'parent' => string '0' (length=3)
      public 'children' => array (size=2)
            0 => 
                object(stdClass)[785]
                  public 'term_id' => string '2' (length=3)
                  public 'name' => string 'Clothes' (length=25)
                  public 'parent' => string '1' (length=3)
                  public 'children' => (size=1)
                      0 => 
                        object(stdClass)[786]
                          public 'term_id' => string '3' (length=3)
                          public 'name' => string 'Scarves' (length=25)
                          public 'parent' => string '2' (length=3)
            1 =>
                object(stdClass)[785]
                  public 'term_id' => string '4' (length=3)
                  public 'name' => string 'Gloves' (length=25)
                  public 'parent' => string '1' (length=3)

The result should be something a nested list similar to this one:

All
- Clothes
  - Scarves
- Food
  - Vegetables

After trying many time, I've built utilized array_walk_recursive and another recursive function of my own (simplified):

function attachChildren($items)
{
    foreach($items as $item) {
        echo $item->name;
        if (is_array(($item->children))) {
            $this->attachChildren($item->children);
        }
    }
}

function buildTree($value, $key)
{
    echo $value->name;
    if (is_array($value->children)) {
        $this->attachChildren($value->children);
    }           
}

array_walk_recursive($sortedArray, 'buildTree');

The problem with this solution is getting the formatting right. Two functions produce output and I find it difficult to arrange the items in an indented list.

What is the best way to have this array displayed as an indented list with multiple levels?

walk through array and sub array. first index element ul sub array li sub array append ul>li — Abdul Rehman
– Abdul Rehman, Commented Apr 3, 2015 at 11:54

Abdul Rehman · Accepted Answer · 2015-04-03 13:02:40Z

1

function walk($array){  
    foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
        echo "<ul>";
        if(is_array($value)){
            echo "<li>{$value['name']}</li>";

            walk($value);
        }
        echo "</ul>";
    }
}

$ar = [
        ['name' => 'All', ['name' => 'Clothes', ['name' =>'Scarves']]],
        ['name' => 'Gloves']
      ];

walk($ar);

answered Apr 3, 2015 at 13:02

Abdul Rehman

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