How to hardcode appending to an array on a PHP file using a script?

Question

For example, a PHP file contains this:

<?php

return [
    'sample_array' => [
        'sample_index' => 'sample_data',
    ],
];

I would like to append values to sample_array using a PHP script. What would be the best way to do this?

Edit: After running the script, file should be updated to:

<?php

return [
    'sample_array' => [
        'sample_index' => 'sample_data',
        'sample_index2' => 'sample_data2',
    ],
];

Edit: What I'm looking for is the creation of a script that will directly update the contents of the PHP file to append the array.

If you just want add value (with a new key) just $sample_array['sample_index2'] = 'sample data2' — bestprogrammerintheworld
– bestprogrammerintheworld, Commented May 2, 2020 at 7:13
You want to fetch the contents of the PHP-file? What exactly what you mean by the contents of the PHP-file? All the code? — bestprogrammerintheworld
– bestprogrammerintheworld, Commented May 2, 2020 at 7:25
The file resides locally. What I would like to do is run a script that will update the contents of the file. What I mean by "update the contents of the file" is that the sample_array should be appended with additional data (which would be hardcoded in the script) after running the script. — rcbgalido
– rcbgalido, Commented May 2, 2020 at 7:30
You want to fetch the array from file1(php) and add som data to that array in file2(php) you mean? — bestprogrammerintheworld
– bestprogrammerintheworld, Commented May 2, 2020 at 7:31
Do you want to update file1 from file2 with the new extended array? — bestprogrammerintheworld
– bestprogrammerintheworld, Commented May 2, 2020 at 7:32

Sherif · Accepted Answer · 2020-05-02 07:31:04Z

5

You can create valid PHP code through the use of var_export(). You can then store the code in a file with something like file_put_contents().

// load the array from the file
$arr = include 'file.php';

// modify the array
$arr['sample_array']['sample_index2'] = 'sample data 2';

// write it back to the file
file_put_contents("file.php", "return " . var_export($arr, true) . ";");

gives you...

return array (
  'sample_array' =>
  array (
    'sample_index' => 'sample_data',
    'sample_index2' => 'sample data 2',
  ),
);

edited May 2, 2020 at 7:31

answered May 2, 2020 at 7:16

Sherif

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5 Comments

rcbgalido Over a year ago

Thank you for your answer but this is not what I'm looking for. Please see my latest edit.

Nigel Ren Over a year ago

May be worth adding the <?php to the start of the file generated.

bestprogrammerintheworld Over a year ago

@Pardo - I'm glad you got your answer, but wouldn't this be in a second file then? (file2) I'm just curious, I had a hard trying to understand what you were looking for.

rcbgalido Over a year ago

Hi @bestprogrammerintheworld, sorry if I didn't make it more understandable. The script given by @Sherif would update the file (file.php) directly after execution. There is no creation of another file.

bestprogrammerintheworld Over a year ago

Aha @Pardo - no problem. Som misunderstanding in communication only. As I said. I'm glad you got help. That's the important thing!

Bertyterty · Accepted Answer · 2020-05-02 07:16:17Z

0

I think you might be after array_push

<?php
$sample_array = [
  'sample_index' => 'sample_data',
];

array_push($sample_array, array(
  'sample_index2' => 'sample_data2',
));

return $sample_array;

With array push, the second argument could be another array that you have already defined with multiple values and keys

More info at php.net array_push

answered May 2, 2020 at 7:16

Bertyterty

1114 bronze badges

2 Comments

rcbgalido Over a year ago

Thank you for your answer but this is not what I'm looking for. Please see my latest edit.

Bertyterty Over a year ago

It's possible it might be better then to store it as JSON instead, as PHP and JS can both encode and parse your content into a JSON array and write it to a file

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