Combine two string arrays into an associative array

Question

I have two arrays. Like:

Bear, prince, dog, Portugal, Bear, Clown, prince, ...

and a second one:

45, 67, 34, 89, ...

I want to turn the string keys in the first array into variables and set them equal to the numbers in the second array.

Is it possible?

deceze · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-26 06:19:08Z

26

extract(array_combine($arrayKeys, $arrayValues));

http://php.net/array_combine
http://php.net/manual/en/function.extract.php

I'd recommend you keep the values in an array though, it's rarely a good idea to flood your namespace with variable variables.

answered Apr 26, 2011 at 6:19

deceze♦

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4 Comments

Wes Over a year ago

So much better than the old days when you used to have to use eval for this sort of problem.

deceze Over a year ago

@Wes How old are these "old days"? PHP could do it without evil() since it had loops and variable variables... :)

Wes Over a year ago

I guess old days in my time was before I knew about extract which was pre 4.3. Just shows what I know I guess. evil()...nice :)

deceze Over a year ago

@chapagain Neither is better, really. The values should stay in an array... :)

Mukesh Chapagain · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-26 06:25:16Z

5

Try using array_combine :-

<?php
$a = array('green', 'red', 'yellow');
$b = array('avocado', 'apple', 'banana');
$c = array_combine($a, $b);

print_r($c);
?>

Output:-

Array (
    [green]  => avocado
    [red]    => apple
    [yellow] => banana 
    )

Loop through this array and create variable for each key value:-

foreach($c as $key => $value) {
    $$key = $value;
}

Now, you can print the variables like:-

echo $green." , ".$red." , ".$yellow;

Hope this helps. Thanks.

answered Apr 26, 2011 at 6:25

Mukesh Chapagain

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2 Comments

Mukesh Chapagain Over a year ago

I think using extract function is better way. php.net/manual/en/function.extract.php But if in case, you don't want all your array values as variables (want limit variables only) then you can use my answer.

deceze Over a year ago

For limiting variables, I'd go with extract(array_intersect_key($c, array_flip(array('green', 'red'))));. ;)

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