Creating an associative array with strings

Question

I read some words from a text file, storing each word as an array element using the file() function. Now I need to sort each word and create an associative array that stores the sorted strings as keys and the original strings as values like so :

$hash_table = array( 'sorted_string' => 'original string' );

I loop through every word read from the file and sort it in ascending order but when it comes to pushing it to the associative array, I am completely lost. Can anyone show me how to create the associative array ?

The syntax is quite simple : $hash_table["key"] = "value"; — HamZa
– HamZa, Commented Jun 17, 2013 at 11:44
How do you sort a single word? Do you want the letters to be switched position to be alphabettical? — Hugo Delsing
– Hugo Delsing, Commented Jun 17, 2013 at 11:47
@MayankKumar Please post the code you're using to generate the associative array, that way we could "fix" where you went wrong. — HamZa
– HamZa, Commented Jun 17, 2013 at 11:53

Srikanth Kolli · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-17 11:56:17Z

3

$a = array('green', 'yellow', 'red');//actual
$b = array('green', 'yellow', 'red');
sort($b); //sorted
$c = array_combine($b, $a);

answered Jun 17, 2013 at 11:56

Srikanth Kolli

9221 gold badge8 silver badges19 bronze badges

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

Comments

Kevin · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-17 11:54:13Z

1

If I understand your question right, consider this:

$sorted;   //sorted array
$original; //original array

foreach($sorted as $key){
  $index = 0;
  $new_array[$key] = $original[$index++];
}

edited Jun 17, 2013 at 11:54

answered Jun 17, 2013 at 11:46

Kevin

6,7236 gold badges47 silver badges55 bronze badges

5 Comments

HamZa Over a year ago

good, not sure if that's what the OP needs since this will give a multidimensional array ($original is an array).

Kevin Over a year ago

@HamZa I think, the now edited answer will atleast be close to answer the OP's question.

HamZa Over a year ago

Yeah, you got +1 from me :)

Kevin Over a year ago

@HamZa I think you should rather +1 the other answer. :)

HamZa Over a year ago

I did, it's a bit sad since I was going to post exactly that answer if the OP has answered my question (in the comments) :p

Hugo Delsing · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-18 06:48:57Z

Here is what you want:

<?php
//create an array with words, similar to what you get with file()
$str = "here is a list of random words that will be sorted";
$array = explode(" ", $str);

//a place to store the result
$result = array();

//check each value
foreach($array as $word) {
  //str_split will create an array from a string
  $letters = str_split(trim($word));
  //sort the letters
  sort($letters);

  //implode the letters again to a single word
  $sorted = implode($letters);

  //add to result
  $result[$sorted] = $word;
}

//dump
var_dump($result);

//sort on the key
ksort($result);

//dump
var_dump($result);
?>

This will output

//unsorted
array(11) {
  ["eehr"]=>
  string(4) "here"
  ["is"]=>
  string(2) "is"
  ["a"]=>
  string(1) "a"
  ["ilst"]=>
  string(4) "list"
  ["fo"]=>
  string(2) "of"
  ["admnor"]=>
  string(6) "random"
  ["dorsw"]=>
  string(5) "words"
  ["ahtt"]=>
  string(4) "that"
  ["illw"]=>
  string(4) "will"
  ["be"]=>
  string(2) "be"
  ["deorst"]=>
  string(6) "sorted"
}

//sorted on key
array(11) {
  ["a"]=>
  string(1) "a"
  ["admnor"]=>
  string(6) "random"
  ["ahtt"]=>
  string(4) "that"
  ["be"]=>
  string(2) "be"
  ["deorst"]=>
  string(6) "sorted"
  ["dorsw"]=>
  string(5) "words"
  ["eehr"]=>
  string(4) "here"
  ["fo"]=>
  string(2) "of"
  ["illw"]=>
  string(4) "will"
  ["ilst"]=>
  string(4) "list"
  ["is"]=>
  string(2) "is"
}

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Creating an associative array with strings

3 Answers 3

Comments

5 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

5 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related