How to get array with maximum value within array in php

Question

I have an array which looks like this:-


    $my_array = array();
    $my_array[] = array("is_match" => false, "number_of_matches" => 0);
    $my_array[] = array("is_match" => true, "number_of_matches" => 2, "id" => 1);
    $my_array[] = array("is_match" => false, "number_of_matches" => 5, "id" => 1);
    $my_array[] = array("is_match" => false, "number_of_matches" => 3, "id" => 1);
    $my_array[] = array("is_match" => false, "number_of_matches" => 1, "id" => 1);

Now i want to get the array with maximum number of matches i.e number_of_matches. Like in this example i want to get below array


    array("is_match" => false, "number_of_matches" => 5, "id" => 1);

I know max() function but it returns maximum value in the array but i want to return the array containing the maximum value in number_of_mataches

usort it, pick the last entry or the first (depending on if you sorted is ascending or descending) of the sorted array. Or a simple foreach loop substituting the current 'winner' with another one if its value is higher. — Wrikken
– Wrikken, Commented Nov 25, 2014 at 19:24

sjagr · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-25 19:37:17Z

1

If you truly just want the maximum number_of_matches element, then I think uasort is a bit overkill and may potentially take longer to execute (however negligible that difference could be.)

$max = false;
foreach ($my_array as $a) {
    if (!$max || $max['number_of_matches'] < $a['number_of_matches']) {
        $max = $a;
    }
}

Only limitation with this is that it will return the first maximum and no other. To get around that limitation (and this gets lengthier than a uasort but may still be faster than a sort):

$max = false;
foreach ($my_array as $a) {
    if (!$max || $max['number_of_matches'] < $a['number_of_matches']) {
        $max = $a;
        $max_array = array();
        $max_array[] = $a;
    } else if ($max['number_of_matches'] == $a['number_of_matches']) {
        $max_array[] = $a;
    }
}

edited Nov 25, 2014 at 19:37

answered Nov 25, 2014 at 19:26

sjagr

16.6k5 gold badges43 silver badges69 bronze badges

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

6 Comments

user1846065 Over a year ago

He wants the whole array that holds the max number_of_matches, not just the max number_of_matches.

sjagr Over a year ago

@MisterDood It still does that. Notice the $max = $a where the conditional compares the element number_of_matches of $max and $a respectively?

Junaid Rehman Over a year ago

how do i get the array in the above code. like there is not echo in the above code. If I want to get that array outside foreach loop then what i can do

sjagr Over a year ago

@JunaidRehman ... The array will be $max or the array of max arrays will be $max_array. Do with it as your please, if you want to dump them to an echo output then do var_dump($max) or var_dump($max_array)

Junaid Rehman Over a year ago

I just put $max_array; before foreach and at end of foreach i use print_r($max_array)

|

Milasinovic · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-25 19:32:19Z

1

You can achieve this with:

usort($my_array, function($a, $b) {
    return $b['number_of_matches'] - $a['number_of_matches'];
});

answered Nov 25, 2014 at 19:32

Milasinovic

363 bronze badges

Comments

score 1 · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-25 20:25:05Z

1

You can use uasort:

function cmp($a, $b) {
    if ($a['number_of_matches'] == $b['number_of_matches']) {
        return 0;
    }
    return ($a['number_of_matches'] < $b['number_of_matches']) ? 1 : -1;
}

uasort($my_array, 'cmp');

echo $my_array[0]['number_of_matches'];

$my_array[0] will hold the array with the highest number_of_matches

edited Nov 25, 2014 at 20:25

answered Nov 25, 2014 at 19:28

user1846065

3 Comments

Junaid Rehman Over a year ago

I am getting following error Notice: Use of undefined constant cmp - assumed 'cmp' in D:\xampp\htdocs\testing\check_max.php on line 22 Notice: Undefined variable: a in D:\xampp\htdocs\testing\check_max.php on line 24

user1846065 Over a year ago

@JunaidRehman Oops; the cmp is supposed to be in quotes. I've fixed my answer accordingly. Just change uasort($my_array, cmp); to uasort($my_array, 'cmp');.

user1846065 Over a year ago

@JunaidRehman Oh wow. I didn't test this code before posting it as an answer. Sorry. Change echo $a[0]['number_of_matches']; to echo $my_array[0]['number_of_matches'];

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to get array with maximum value within array in php

3 Answers 3

6 Comments

Comments

3 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

6 Comments

Comments

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related