Array_unshift like function that returns the array

Question

is there a built in function in php that prepends an element to an array, and returns the new array?

instead of returning the new length of the array?

whats wrong with using array variable that still pass to array_unshift? — Artjom Kurapov
– Artjom Kurapov, Commented Apr 11, 2012 at 12:27
Array unshift edits the original array and then returns the size of it. You can later use a print_r($var_arr) to get the array. — hjpotter92
– hjpotter92, Commented Apr 11, 2012 at 12:28
@TheJumpingFrog no, print_r is not for "getting array", its for printing — Artjom Kurapov
– Artjom Kurapov, Commented Apr 11, 2012 at 12:32
@Anna K. - What's wrong with array_unshif? You can copy an array by assigning it to a new variable: $copy = $array; array_unshift($array);. — hakre
– hakre, Commented Apr 11, 2012 at 18:50

Arialdo Martini · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-11 12:28:52Z

6

You could use

array_merge()

For example

$resultingArray = array_merge(array($newElement), $originalArray);

answered Apr 11, 2012 at 12:28

Arialdo Martini

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Comments

hakre · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-11 12:33:03Z

3

Next to array_merge, if there ain't any duplicate keys, you can do:

$array = array('a' => 'A');
$append = array('b' => 'hello');
$array = $append + $array;

Gives:

Array
(
    [b] => hello
    [a] => A
)

The plus is the array union operator^Docs.

answered Apr 11, 2012 at 12:33

hakre

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Comments

malhal · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-21 14:54:41Z

2

There's no built-in which does it, but it's simple enough to wrap it:

function my_unshift($array, $var) {
  array_unshift($array, $var);
  return $array;
}

This isn't necessary though, because array_unshift() operates on an array reference so the original is modified in place. array_push(), array_pop(), array_shift() all also operate on a a reference.

$arr = array(1,2,3);
array_unshift($arr, 0);

// No need for return. $arr has been modified    
print_arr($arr);
Array
(
    [0] => 0
    [1] => 1
    [2] => 2
    [3] => 3
)

edited Feb 21, 2015 at 14:54

malhal

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answered Apr 11, 2012 at 12:28

Michael Berkowski

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Comments

donquixote · Accepted Answer · 2025-03-10 23:17:33Z

0

Nowadays you can use the spread operator.

$new_array = ['a', ...['b', 'c', 'd']];
assert($new_array === ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd']);

Be careful what this does with array keys!
https://3v4l.org/b03HU

answered Mar 10 at 23:17

donquixote

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1 Comment

mickmackusa Mar 11 at 0:04

Note that spreading will work with non-numeric keys from PHP8.1 and up. 3v4l.org/XP6YJ

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