PHP recursive array searching

Question

I am using the following function to search through an array recursively:

function search2($array, $key){
    if( array_key_exists($key, $array) ){
        print("<br> ----------------- FOUND <u>{$key}</u> with value: {$array[$key]}");

        return array( $key => $array[$key] );

    }else if( !array_key_exists($key, $array) ){
        foreach ($array as $index   =>  $subarray){
                if( is_array($subarray) ){
                    print("<br> ************* <u>{$index}</u> is an ARRAY");
                    print("<br> ************* RE-SEACHING <u>{$index}</u> FOR : <u>{$key}</u>");
                    search2($subarray, $key);
                }
        }
    }
}

So, with the following array structure:

Array
(
    [personal] => Array
        (
            [title] => 
            [forename] => 
            [surname] => 
            [post_code] => 
            [date_of_birth] => Array
                (
                    [month] => 
                    [day] => 
                    [year] => 
                )

            [email_address] => [email protected]
            [confirm_email_address] => 
            [mobile_telephone] => 
            [home_telephone] => 
            [work_telephone] => 
            [are_you_entering_fundraising_in_a_team] => Array
                (
                    [yes] => 0
                )

            [how_many_places_would_you_like] => 
            [team_name] => 
            [names_of_team_members] => 
            [how_did_you_hear_about_this_event] => 
            [please_tell_us_] => 
            [would_you_be_happy_for_publicity] => 
            [is_this_the_first_time_you_have_taken_part_in_or_attended_this_event] => Array
                (
                    [yes] => 0
                )

            [do_you_have_a_special_reason_for_taking_part_in_or_attending_this_event] => 
            [what_are_your_plans_for_raising_the_minimum_sponsorship_amount___please_be_as_detailed_as_possible] => 
            [number_of_tickets_required] => 1
        )
)

My function will keep calling itself until it finds an index I am searching for. If I were searching for email_address, the first part of the if statement should return the value of that index if that array key exists otherwise it goes into recursive mode in the second part of the code.

The trouble is the code seems to work because I get my "found" print out statement as in the following:

print("<br> ----------------- FOUND <u>{$key}</u> with value: {$array[$key]}");

However, I expect the return statement to do what it's supposed to but I get no output at the point of my function call.

tijs · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-25 12:55:40Z

5

Also you can use built-in function array_walk_recursive with callback supplied.

answered Sep 25, 2012 at 12:55

tijs

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Comments

Marcos Dimitrio · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-29 17:23:53Z

4

Use a recursive in array function:

function in_array_r ( $needle, $haystack, $strict = true )
    {
        foreach ( $haystack as $value )
        {
            if (( $strict ? $value === $needle : $value == $needle ) || ( is_array ( $value ) && in_array_r ( $needle, $value, $strict )))
            {
                return true;
            }
        }

        return false;
    }

This function will keep on looping until it finds the key you're looking for.

edited Nov 29, 2014 at 17:23

Marcos Dimitrio

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answered Sep 25, 2012 at 12:54

Kao

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1 Comment

Yatin Mistry Over a year ago

This function give only one value. How to get multiple values. I have replaced return true to with return $key.

user21926 · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-25 12:53:50Z

2

You have to return the value that you found, so change:

search2($subarray, $key);

To:

return search2($subarray, $key);

answered Sep 25, 2012 at 12:53

user21926

1 Comment

sisko Over a year ago

Thank you so much. I knew I was overlooking something important

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