Cannot access PHP array value

Question

I have this piece of code:

$object = new StdClass();
$object->{'1'} = 'test_1';
$object->a = 'test_a';
$array = (array) $object;

var_dump($array) works fine, returns

array (size=2)
  '1' => string 'test_1' (length=6)
  'a' => string 'test_a' (length=6)

however,

var_dump($array[1]);   //returns null
var_dump($array['1']); //returns null
var_dump($array["1"]); //returns null

Can someone explain this behaviour? Why can't I access a property that I can see is there?

Look at this answer and comments: stackoverflow.com/a/4345609/722135 — Babblo
– Babblo, Commented Nov 29, 2013 at 14:28
Can you explain what inaccessible stands for? since var_dump display it, also a foreach display it too! — ilyes kooli
– ilyes kooli, Commented Nov 29, 2013 at 14:32

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 20:38:18Z

1

Your result is fine. It is as it's expected in PHP - since string keys that are numerics actually will be converted to integers - both within definition of array or within attempt to dereference them. It's not how you're supposed to use arrays - i.e. converting an object. Yes - such conversion is a way to get string numeric keys - but the consequences are your own.

You can extract such values via:

function getValue($array, $key)
{
   foreach($array as $k=>$value)
   {
      if($k===$key)
      {
         return $value;
      }
   }
   return null;
}

$object = new StdClass();
$object->{'1'} = 'test_1';
$object->a = 'test_a';
$array = (array) $object;

var_dump(getValue($array, '1'), getValue($array, 1));

-but I definitely don't recommend to use arrays in such manner.

To say more - there are such things as ArrayAccess in PHP that allows you to implement custom logic for your data-structure - and, using them, you'll able to overcome this restriction in normal way.

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 20:38

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Nov 29, 2013 at 14:35

Alma Do

37.4k10 gold badges81 silver badges106 bronze badges

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

2 Comments

ilyes kooli Over a year ago

1) I was there before coming here, but is not the same case, if it's only about casting the numeric keys to integer, I'm still able to get $array[1]. 2) I know how to overcome the problem, but I want to understand what's happening

Alma Do Over a year ago

So I've explained that by 'string keys that are numerics actually will be converted to integers - both within definition of array or within attempt to dereference them' - i.e. PHP will treat "1" as 1 within array definition or accessing it's element via []

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Cannot access PHP array value

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related