Replacing array key spaces with underscores in multidimensional array

Question

I have an array with spaces all throughout the keys. This makes a problem for targeting in other programs which can't target spaces and is bad practice to have spaces in keys.

I'm looking for something that will remove the key spaces and replace with underscores in a multidimensional array. Most likely would have to be a recursive function?

Found something similar in another question but was about replacing in values.

foreach ($all_regions as $key => $value){
 $all_regions[$key] = strtolower(str_replace(' ', '_', $value));
}

Pretty much need this replicated but for keys. The problem I'm hitting is that I can think of how to make reference to the key itself, because if you try push like the above method it would just recreate another key with underscores.

A snippet of the array, this is as deep as it goes.

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [Line Identifier] => PID
            [Set ID] => 1
            [User ID] => 
            [Requests] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [Line Identifier] => OBR
                            [Set ID] => 1
                            [Placer Order Number] => 021120091525
                            [Results] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => Array
                                        (
                                            [Line Identifier] => OBX
                                            [Set ID] => 1
                                    [1] => Array
                                        (
                                            [Line Identifier] => OBX
                                            [Set ID] => 2

I've tried the below, but Key element cannot be a reference

private function fixArrayKeys($array){
    if(is_array($array)){
        foreach($array as &$key => $value){
            if(!is_array($key))
                $array[strtolower(str_replace(' ', '_', $key))] = $value;
            else
                fixArrayKeys($array);
        }
    } else {
        return $array;
    }
}

I think you have to pass the whole array by reference not just key.. — Dinesh
– Dinesh, Commented Nov 15, 2012 at 5:19

Passerby · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-15 10:59:09Z

8

function fixArrayKey(&$arr)
{
    $arr=array_combine(array_map(function($str){return str_replace(" ","_",$str);},array_keys($arr)),array_values($arr));
    foreach($arr as $key=>$val)
    {
        if(is_array($val)) fixArrayKey($arr[$key]);
    }
}

Tested as below:

$data=array("key 1"=>"abc","key 2"=>array("sub 1"=>"abc","sub 2"=>"def"),"key 3"=>"ghi");
print_r($data);
fixArrayKey($data);
print_r($data);

This outputs:

Array
(
    [key 1] => abc
    [key 2] => Array
        (
            [sub 1] => abc
            [sub 2] => def
        )

    [key 3] => ghi
)
Array
(
    [key_1] => abc
    [key_2] => Array
        (
            [sub_1] => abc
            [sub_2] => def
        )

    [key_3] => ghi
)

answered Nov 15, 2012 at 10:59

Passerby

10.1k2 gold badges37 silver badges53 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Aman Virk · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-15 05:20:20Z

1

Why don't you remove the spaces from key at the first place

foreach ($all_regions as $key => $value){
      $key = strtolower(str_replace(' ', '_', $key));
      $all_regions[$key] = strtolower(str_replace(' ', '_', $value));
}

answered Nov 15, 2012 at 5:20

Aman Virk

3,9679 gold badges43 silver badges51 bronze badges

1 Comment

Bankzilla Over a year ago

Because I have no control over the building of the array. That snippet I posted was another users code to use as reference

xelber · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-15 05:25:52Z

0

Try Below, have not tested it, but see the key differences

function fixArrayKeys(&$array)
{
    if(is_array($array)){
        foreach($array as &$key => $value){
            if(!is_array($value))
                $array[strtolower(str_replace(' ', '_', $key))] = $value;
            else
                fixArrayKeys(&$value);
        }
    } else {
        return $array;
    }
}

answered Nov 15, 2012 at 5:25

xelber

4,6653 gold badges30 silver badges38 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Replacing array key spaces with underscores in multidimensional array

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related