PHP add keys to nested arrays

Question

I have nested arrays that do not have keys. I want to add keys in a particular order. What is a clean way to do this?

Start with this array. It is only indexed by position.

[0] => (
    [0] => Tyler
    [1] => Durden
    [2] => 05/07/1985
)
[1] => (
    [0] => Edward
    [1] => Norton
    [2] => 03/21/1988
)

Now apply these keys in order:

['first_name'] =>
['last_name'] =>
['birthday'] =>

Final array:

[0] => (
   ['first_name'] => Tyler
   ['last_name'] => Durden
   ['birthday'] => 05/071985
)
[1] => (
    ['first_name'] => Edward
    ['last_name'] => Norton
    ['birthday'] => 03/21/1988
)

Bonus upvotes if your code allows for any key structure, instead of being hard-coded!

I tried it myself using a bunch of nested foreach loops. It was super inefficient and clear that a more elegant method must exist. I did ATTEMPT it myself, thanks. I also went through all the PHP functions but didn't realize that array_combine could work in this context. — Don P
– Don P, Commented Aug 15, 2012 at 19:08

awm · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-15 18:39:02Z

4

I think array_combine will do the trick:

foreach ($bigarray as &$x) {
  $x = array_combine(array('first_name','last_name','birthday'),$x);
}

answered Aug 15, 2012 at 18:39

awm

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2 Comments

Don P Over a year ago

What is the ampersand in ($bigarray as &$x) for?

awm Over a year ago

The ampersand lets us loop through the array by reference so that we can change the array values as we go.

Stano · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-15 18:45:07Z

0

Also the classic algorythm:

foreach ( $array as $key=>$value ) {
   $array[$key]['first_name'] = $array[$key][0];
   $array[$key]['last_name'] = $array[$key][1];
   $array[$key]['birthday'] = $array[$key][2];
   unset($array[$key][0]);
   unset($array[$key][1]);
   unset($array[$key][2]);
}

answered Aug 15, 2012 at 18:45

Stano

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