How to output a complex multidimensional associative array into nested lists

Question

I want to turn the following array into a nested list in html.

$aMenu = array(
array("name" => "Page 1", 
      "url" => "http://www.microsoft.se", 
      "subpages" => array(
        array("name" => "Subpage 1.1", "url" => "http://www.reddit.com"),
        array("name" => "Subpage 1.2", "url" => "http://www.google.se"),          
        array("name" => "Subpage 1.3", "url" => "http://www.cnn.com"),
    )               
),          
array("name" => "Page 2", "url" => "http://www.facebook.com"),
array("name" => "Page 3",
      "url" => "http://www.bbc.co.uk",
      "subpages" => array(
          array("name" => "Subpage 3.1", "url" => "http://www.jamesedition.com"),
          array("name" => "Subpage 3.2", "url" => "http://www.huffpost.com"),
          array("name" => "Subpage 3.3", 
                "url" => "http://www.lagunitas.com",
                "subpages" => array(
                    array("name" => "Subpage 3.3.1", "url" => "http://www.burton.com"),
                    array("name" => "Subpage 3.3.2", "url" => "http://www.hm.com"),
                    array("name" => "Subpage 3.3.3", "url" => "http://www.apple.com"),
                ),
          ),
      ),                                
),
array("name" => "Page 4", "url" => "http://www.instagram.com"),
array("name" => "Page 5", "url" => "http://www.flickr.com"),
);

Desired output:

Page 1
- Subpage 1.1
- Subpage 1.2
- Subpage 1.3
Page 2
Page 3
- Subpage 3.1
- Subpage 3.2
- Subpage 3.3
  - Subpage 3.3.1
  - Subpage 3.3.2
  - Subpage 3.3.3
Page 4
Page 5

I know how to do this manually and I know how to loop through single levels of the array but I cannot figure out how to loop through it all and output the results into nested lists. I have seen separate solutions to these problems but I can't seem to make them work together. Any help would be appreciated.

Nikos M. · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-06 15:42:18Z

1

PHP speudo-code:

function list2html($list)
{
  $html = '';
  foreach ($list as $item)
  {
    $html .= '<li>' . $item['name'];
    if ( !empty($item['subpages']) ) // recurse here
      $html .= list2html($item['subpages']);
    $html .= '</li>';
  }
   return '<ul>' . $html . '</ul>';
}

Use like this:

$html_output = list2html($aMenu);

Note urls are missing you will have to modify the function to add them

Note2 Recursion is not needed, one can iterate (or simulate recursion with iteration) and it will be faster but more complex code

answered Mar 6, 2015 at 15:42

Nikos M.

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2 Comments

Brian Ranney Over a year ago

Thanks Nikos, this seems to work but it outputs the lists separately instead of as nested. I will play around with it and see if I can get it to output a nested list. Thanks again!

Nikos M. Over a year ago

@BrianRanney, the html list is nested (because each subpages are rendered inside the current li element), i would suggest to change your css

MilanG · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-06 15:29:59Z

0

You have to make recursive function, which will go trough the one level of array and call it self for every array found as the parameter.

answered Mar 6, 2015 at 15:29

MilanG

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3 Comments

Brian Ranney Over a year ago

Thanks for the quick reply! I am still a little new with PHP can you explain what you mean in a little more depth?

MilanG Over a year ago

You have to make a function that will have array as a parameter. Function should iterate trough that array (i.e. with foreach command) and check for every element found. If element is simple (not an array) function should print out it's html. But if it's array function should call it self and pass that array as a parameter. At beginning you should call the function with initial array.

Brian Ranney Over a year ago

Ok, that sounds logical. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet but I will see what I can come up with. Thanks!

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