Convert PHP multidimensional array to JavaScript notation

Question

I am looking for an efficient and clean function to convert PHP multidimensional arrays to javascript notation definitions. For example:

$settings = array(
    "customer" => array(
        "first_name" => "John",
        "last_name" => "Doe",
        "company" => array(
            "name" => "Foobar Inc",
            "address" => "123 Main Street"
        )
    )
)

Should translate into:

echo 'window.customer.first_name = "John"';
echo 'window.customer.last_name = "Doe"';
echo 'window.customer.company.name = "Foobar Inc"';
echo 'window.customer.company.address = "123 Main Street"';

Can you explain a little more about why this approach is necessary over json_encode? — scrowler
– scrowler, Commented Feb 27, 2014 at 1:28
What you're trying to do is a terrible idea and makes no sense. — Marty
– Marty, Commented Feb 27, 2014 at 1:29

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 20:42:18Z

5

Just use json_encode()

$json = json_encode($settings);

Example:

$settings = array(
    "customer" => array(
        "first_name" => "John",
        "last_name" => "Doe",
        "company" => array(
            "name" => "Foobar Inc",
            "address" => "123 Main Street"
        )
    )
);
        
echo json_encode($settings);

Output:

{"customer":{"first_name":"John","last_name":"Doe","company":{"name":"Foobar Inc","address":"123 Main Street"}}}

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 20:42

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Feb 27, 2014 at 1:19

John Conde

220k100 gold badges464 silver badges504 bronze badges

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

1 Comment

Scuzzy Over a year ago

@justin I think you will find it works like: var somevar = <?php echo json_encode($settings);?>;alert(somevar.customer.first_name);

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:28:44Z

0

It looks like you're trying to generate an .ini file. I'd say you could write a simple recursive function that, given a base string to use as the start of the property name, would then generate a line of output for its value - or a sequence of lines, recursively calling itself, if the value is an array.

Another approach is given here: create ini file, write values in PHP

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:28

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Feb 27, 2014 at 1:57

Brian Kendig

2,5513 gold badges26 silver badges38 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Convert PHP multidimensional array to JavaScript notation

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related