How to use an input field name stored as a string as php array indicies

Question

I have an field name that is passed to me via an ajax function which i need to use to lookup values in an existing array. e.g.

$myarray = array(
    'name' => array(
        '0' => array(
            'first' => 'Steve'
        )
    ),
);


$incoming = 'name[0][first]';

So using the $incoming variable i wanted to get the corresponding data out of the array but cant figure out how to convert the string into the array indicies lookup.

Im trying to come up with a method that will work regardless of the level of nesting in the array.

$incoming = $myarray['name'][0]['first'] and $myarray["name"][0]["first"] works as well. — Halcyon
– Halcyon, Commented Apr 13, 2012 at 21:51
possible duplicate of PHP: Use a string as an array index path to retreive a value — Marc B
– Marc B, Commented Apr 13, 2012 at 21:52

webbiedave · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-13 22:02:19Z

1

Suggestion #1

Change the jQuery to send the request as JSON, which can instantly be converted into a PHP array with json_decode.

Suggestion #2

If you can't switch to JSON, use preg_split to split the incoming field and loop over them to grab the correct array element. Something along the lines of:

$incoming = 'name[0][first]';

$parts = preg_split('/(\[|\])/', $incoming, null, PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY);

$el = $myarray;
foreach ($parts as $part) {
    $el = $el[$part];
}

echo $el; // Steve

edited Apr 13, 2012 at 22:02

answered Apr 13, 2012 at 21:55

webbiedave

49k8 gold badges92 silver badges104 bronze badges

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

Comments

Yaron U. · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-13 22:03:23Z

0

you can use the eval function... evenhough this is extremely not recommended - especially when you get the string for the client (if I understood write)

 $incoming = 'name[0]["first"]';
 eval('$value = $'+$incoming+';');
 echo $value;

this script should print the data of the specific cell in the array...

again - this is not recommended unless you make sure that the input is in the format that you are expecting...

answered Apr 13, 2012 at 22:03

Yaron U.

7,9333 gold badges33 silver badges45 bronze badges

3 Comments

Jeff Hines Over a year ago

I don't think this should have been proposed, given the OP's level of knowledge of the subject. Even with the disclaimers.

Rob Holmes Over a year ago

With the information i gave the suggestion of running eval() against an argument passed via ajax would be a security disaster

Yaron U. Over a year ago

I'm glad you understand that :)

squarephoenix · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-13 22:24:14Z

0

This will work assuming there will always be 3 keys OR LESS. You could add "$keyX" vars and "if($numkeys == X)" for however big the array gets, but I could not find a more flexible fix

$incoming = 'name[0][first]';

$numkeys =  preg_match_all('/[\[]/', $incoming, $matches) + 1;

$split = preg_split('/[[\]]/', $incoming);
$key1 = $split[0];
$key2 = $split[1];
$key3 = $split[3];

if($numkeys == 1) {
echo $myarray[$key1];
} elseif ($numkeys == 2) {
echo $myarray[$key1][$key2];
} elseif ($numkeys == 3) {
echo $myarray[$key1][$key2][$key3];
}

edited Apr 13, 2012 at 22:24

answered Apr 13, 2012 at 22:01

squarephoenix

1,0037 silver badges7 bronze badges

Comments

Siddharth Gaur · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-14 06:51:14Z

0

try using explode function here, in your example - name[0][first] will give give an array - of (name, 0] , first] ) as list/array after you explode on '['. Discard the first element and from the rest, take the ']' part out. Later you may convert them to respective formats - integers, strings etc.

edited Apr 14, 2012 at 6:51

answered Apr 13, 2012 at 22:10

Siddharth Gaur

1111 silver badge11 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to use an input field name stored as a string as php array indicies

4 Answers 4

Suggestion #1

Suggestion #2

Comments

3 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

Suggestion #1

Suggestion #2

Comments

3 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related