Changing values in deep multidimensional array?

Question

Here's an example of my array:

array(4) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(4) "id-1"
    ["articles"]=>
    array(2) {
      [0]=>
      array(1) {
        ["data"]=>
        array(6) {
          ["art"]=>
          string(6) "108108"
          ["type"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["pos"]=>
          string(3) "125"
          ["kleur"]=>
          string(4) "3750"
          ["height"]=>
          string(3) "179"
          ["foto"]=>
          string(2) "01"
        }
      }
      [1]=>
      array(1) {
        ["data"]=>
        array(6) {
          ["art"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["type"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["pos"]=>
          string(3) "163"
          ["kleur"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["height"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["foto"]=>
          string(0) ""
        }
      }
    }
  }
  [2]=>
  array(2) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(7) "ui-id-2"
    ["articles"]=>
    array(2) {
      [0]=>
      array(1) {
        ["data"]=>
        array(6) {
          ["art"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["type"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["pos"]=>
          string(3) "944"
          ["kleur"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["height"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["foto"]=>
          string(0) ""
        }
      }
      [1]=>
      array(1) {
        ["data"]=>
        array(6) {
          ["art"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["type"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["pos"]=>
          string(3) "586"
          ["kleur"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["height"]=>
          string(0) ""
          ["foto"]=>
          string(0) ""
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

As an example, I want to change the value of art where the id is id-1 and where the pos is 163.

I started, but got stuck somewhere deep...

foreach($data as $key => $value) {
    if($value['id'] === "id-1") {
        foreach($value as $tweek => $tweev) {
            foreach($tweev as $driek => $driev) {
                foreach($driev as $vierk => $vierv) {
                    if($vierv['pos'] === "163") {
                        // This is the right article! I think...
                        echo $vierv['pos'] . "<br />"; // shows 163!
                        foreach($vierv as $vijfk => $vijfv) {
                            // What to do?!?!
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Am I on the right track? What's next? Anyone that is able to point me in the right direction?

You should really use objects when you start dealing with so deeply nested arrays. If you have no other choice but use arrays though, you can create a recursive function that returns the subarray of n-th level with some parameter that lets you control how deep you want to go. — mareckmareck
– mareckmareck, Commented Apr 15, 2014 at 12:48
This array is 5 levels deep: a clear indication you are doing something wrong. With this structure you will be able to get code that works but is brittle and horrible to read at best. You should change the structure. — Jon
– Jon, Commented Apr 15, 2014 at 12:49
This should do help maintaining shorter code array_replace_recursive. — Vitor Tyburski
– Vitor Tyburski, Commented Apr 15, 2014 at 12:50

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:05:41Z

1

You should really use objects when you start dealing with so deeply nested arrays. If you have no other choice though, you can create a recursive function that returns the subarray of n-th level with some parameter that lets you control how deep you want to go.

Something like this perhaps?

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:05

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answered Apr 15, 2014 at 12:52

mareckmareck

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Comments

dkakoti · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-15 12:59:25Z

1

Use array_recursive() in PHP

<?php
     $a1=array("a"=>"red","pos"=>"364");
     $a2=array($a1,"1"=>"blue","2"=>"yellow");//one array inside another to simulate your multi depth array

     array_walk_recursive($a2,"myfunction");//use array_recursive


    function myfunction($value,$key)
    {
       if ($key == 'pos' && $value == '364') { //set your condition here 
        echo "change your key or value here";
       }
    }
    ?>

answered Apr 15, 2014 at 12:59

dkakoti

67511 silver badges26 bronze badges

Comments

i4h · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-15 13:16:26Z

The way you define this array makes it hard to see what is going on. You could write it like this:

arr = array(
  0=>array(
     'id'=>"id-1",
     'articles'=> array(
        0=>array(
           'data'=> array(
              'art'=> "108108"
              'type'=> ""
              'pos'=> "125"
              'kleur'=> "3750"
              'height'=> "179"
              'foto'=> "01"
              ),
           ),


        1=> array(
            'data'=> array(
               'art'=> ""
               'type'=> ""
               'pos'=> "163"
               'kleur'=> ""
               'height'=> ""
               'foto'=> ""
               ),
            ),
      ),
     ),
  2=> array(
    'id'=>"ui-id-2"
    'articles'=> array(
       0=> array(
           'data'=> array(
              'art'=> ""
              'type'=> ""
              'pos'=> "944"
              'kleur'=> ""
              'height'=> ""
              'foto'=> ""
              ),
           ),
       1=> array(
           'data'=> array(
              'art'=> ""
              'type'=> ""
              'pos'=> "586"
              'kleur'=> ""
              'height'=> ""
              'foto'=> ""
              ),
           ),
       ),
    ),
  );

This way you can for example see, that the 'data' array introduces a superfluent nesting level. To answer your question: You can access elements in multidimensional arrays like this:

foreach ($arr as $key=>value) 
   if ($value['id'] == 'id-1')
      foreach($value as $key2=>$value2)
         if ($value2['pos'] == 163)
             $value2['art'] = $newArtValue;

I agree with the comments, that you should change your structure. For this loop, using the 'id' and 'pos' values as KEYS would make the iterations unnecessary:

So if you write your array like this (loosing no information):

  $arr = array(
  'id-1'=>array(
     'articles'=> array(
        125=>array(
              'art'=> "108108"
              'type'=> ""
              'kleur'=> "3750"
              'height'=> "179"
              'foto'=> "01"
           ),
        163=> array(
               'art'=> ""
               'type'=> ""
               'kleur'=> ""
               'height'=> ""
               'foto'=> ""
            ),
      ),
     ),
  'ui-id-2'=> array(
    'articles'=> array(
       944=> array(
              'art'=> ""
              'type'=> ""
              'kleur'=> ""
              'height'=> ""
              'foto'=> ""
           ),
       586=> array(
              'art'=> ""
              'type'=> ""
              'kleur'=> ""
              'height'=> ""
              'foto'=> ""
           ),
       ),
    ),
  );

Changing the value as you asked is as simple as:

$arr['id-1'][163]['art'] = $newArtValue;

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