Better way to get first element of returned array

Question

I found myself using this:

$var=(string)array_shift(array_values($item->xpath($s)));

where $s is an xpath search string and the return is an array of objects that contain strings.

It works, but I'm not sure it's the best way to get the data I want.

I could use a tempvar, but I wanted to avoid that.

Any suggestions?

I'd think that array_values is useless here. With PHP 5.4 you can do $item->xpath($s)[0] — knittl
– knittl, Commented Mar 2, 2012 at 19:35
Why do you want to avoid a variable here? Whats wrong with $results = $item->xpath($s); $var = (string) $results[0];? — cmbuckley
– cmbuckley, Commented Mar 2, 2012 at 19:37
@knittl syntax error, unexpected '[' in /home/... line 211 when I tried your version. My php version might be slightly older than 5.4 — TecBrat
– TecBrat, Commented Mar 2, 2012 at 19:57
@TecBrat: array subscript on function calls was only added with PHP 5.4 (released today) — knittl
– knittl, Commented Mar 2, 2012 at 20:19

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 20:38:18Z

10

Careful with array_shift, as it will remove the element from the array stack, if you simply want the first value, you can use current:

$var = (string) current($item->xpath($s));

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 20:38

CommunityBot

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answered Mar 2, 2012 at 19:43

Mike Purcell

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2 Comments

TecBrat Over a year ago

Had never seen current() before. Thanks. That should be the answer to a lot of "get the first elemen" questions I've see on various PHP forums.

Mike Purcell Over a year ago

There is also an end() which will get you the last element.

Starx · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-02 19:39:24Z

0

I believe this gives the same result.

$var=array_shift($item->xpath($s));

answered Mar 2, 2012 at 19:39

Starx

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Comments

Peter Kelly · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-24 22:36:44Z

0

$var = $reset($item->xpath($s));

Note that this rewinds the array's internal pointer and returns the first element. The method current returns the element at the position the pointer happens to be in - it is not guaranteed to always be the first element.

answered Oct 24, 2012 at 22:36

Peter Kelly

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