PHP Array: Contents from result set

Question

I have a fairly simple problem to which I've been unable to find a solution. I'd like to fill an array with the contents of a mySQL column.

Basically I have a loop that gathers the result set, and I need to take a specific column from this result set and put it into an array.

    foreach ($results as $row){

      $names = array();

      $names[] = $row['name'];

    };

Let's say there were 40 names in the result set they should now all be in the $names array, but I only get the last result when I attempt to print the contents on screen:

    echo $names[0]; or print_r($names);

I have also tried:

    while($row = mysql_fetch_array($results)) {

       $names[] = $row['name']; 

    }

However I already have the foreach setup and working so I don't want to introduce another loop just to populate the array.

I know the query and loop are both working because I can echo out the value of each name directly by placing:

    echo $row['name']

in the loop and see the resulting names print on screen.

On your first example, you're resetting the array on every loop iteration, so you'd only ever get the LAST record retrieved from the DB stored into it. The initialization must be done OUTSIDE the loop. — Marc B
– Marc B, Commented May 8, 2012 at 20:49

Aaron W. · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-08 20:38:00Z

5

Try

$names = array();
foreach ($results as $row){
      $names[] = $row['name'];
}

You were re-declaring $names to a blank array on each loop removing the item you added to it.

answered May 8, 2012 at 20:38

Aaron W.

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1 Comment

Hope4You Over a year ago

That's definitely going to be your problem. Every re-looping, the $names array was getting emptied; if you put it outside the loop, it stops doing that.

ncremins · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-08 20:39:28Z

3

$names = array();
foreach ($results as $row){
    $names[] = $row['name'];
};

your problem was $names = array(); was declaring a new array everytime you looped through the result set

answered May 8, 2012 at 20:39

ncremins

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Comments

Madara's Ghost · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-08 20:39:47Z

3

You are overriding the array value each time by initializing it inside of the loop. The following will work:

$names = array(); //Outside
foreach ($results as $row){
      $names[] = $row['name'];
}

Otherwise, you're pushing on the first iteration, and clearing it on the next, over and over again.

answered May 8, 2012 at 20:39

Madara's Ghost

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semper · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-08 20:40:43Z

0

You are declaring variable in a loop and want to use it outside its impossible. Read about php variables scope.

answered May 8, 2012 at 20:40

semper

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1 Comment

andrewsi Over a year ago

If that were true, then he wouldn't be getting any data at all, instead of just getting the final value.

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