PHP 5.4 Illegal String Offset Error

Question

I am using a foreach construct to look at an array returned from a function. Unfortunately, this function returns different structures if there is only 1 result than if there are more than 1 result. When there is a single result, I get the following:

array(3) {
  ["name"]=>
  string(5) "chris"
  ["admin"]=>
  string(5) "chris"
  ["time"]=>
  string(19) "2014/06/27 12:36:31"
}
string(34) "$1$9243ujf0i2j8ehdf24hdf9a8"

I am trying to get the ["name"] value out. If I use the following code, my variable has the right data but I get an Illegal String Offset error:

foreach($res[1]['result']['user']['entry'] as $user) {
  $s = $user['name'];
  echo $s;
}

How do I properly get to the array["name"] value? Or do I have to do something different at a higher level? The raw data I get back is as follows when there is a single entry:

array(2) {
  ["@attributes"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["status"]=>
    string(7) "success"
    ["code"]=>
    string(2) "19"
  }
  ["result"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["@attributes"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["total-count"]=>
      string(1) "1"
      ["count"]=>
      string(1) "1"
    }
    ["user"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["@attributes"]=>
      array(2) {
        ["admin"]=>
        string(5) "chris"
        ["time"]=>
        string(19) "2014/06/27 12:39:58"
      }
      ["entry"]=>
      array(2) {
        ["@attributes"]=>
        array(3) {
          ["name"]=>
          string(5) "chris"
          ["admin"]=>
          string(5) "chris"
          ["time"]=>
          string(19) "2014/06/27 12:36:31"
        }
        ["phash"]=>
        string(34) "$1$9243ujf0i2j8ehdf24hdf9a8"
      }
    }
  }
}

and the following when there is more than one entry:

array(2) {
  ["@attributes"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["status"]=>
    string(7) "success"
    ["code"]=>
    string(2) "19"
  }
  ["result"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["@attributes"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["total-count"]=>
      string(1) "1"
      ["count"]=>
      string(1) "1"
    }
    ["user"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["@attributes"]=>
      array(2) {
        ["admin"]=>
        string(5) "chris"
        ["time"]=>
        string(19) "2014/06/27 12:57:32"
      }
      ["entry"]=>
      array(2) {
        [0]=>
        array(2) {
          ["@attributes"]=>
          array(3) {
            ["name"]=>
            string(5) "chris"
            ["admin"]=>
            string(5) "chris"
            ["time"]=>
            string(19) "2014/06/27 12:36:31"
          }
          ["phash"]=>
          string(34) "$1$9243ujf0i2j8ehdf24hdf9a8"
        }
        [1]=>
        array(2) {
          ["@attributes"]=>
          array(3) {
            ["name"]=>
            string(4) "test"
            ["admin"]=>
            string(5) "chris"
            ["time"]=>
            string(19) "2014/06/27 12:57:32"
          }
          ["phash"]=>
          string(34) "$1$as9d8jf238r9jf89j9238jr"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Note the extra indexed array level after ["entry"]. Basically, I just want the list of ["name"] values.

I'm pretty sure you want foreach($res[1]['result']['user']['entry']['@attributes'] as $user). Both of them hold the name bit inside that sub-array. — Anthony
– Anthony, Commented Jun 27, 2014 at 18:05
not really. Look at the structure again, the division is after entry. — Manatax
– Manatax, Commented Jun 27, 2014 at 18:16
@Anthony: Thanks, but that won't work. When there are more than one entry, there is an extra array level there: $res[1]['result']['user']['entry'][0]['@attributes']. When there is a single entry it's just $res[1]['result']['user']['entry']['@attributes']. — Caynadian
– Caynadian, Commented Jun 27, 2014 at 18:18
I totally missed the spot where the entry splits into an array. But there would be an illegal offset if you don't add @attributes to either path. Where does the array come from? — Anthony
– Anthony, Commented Jun 27, 2014 at 18:46

laurent · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-27 18:09:38Z

1

The service that returns a different structure depending on the number of results is broken to begin with. If it cannot be fixed, you could try to normalize the data before processing it with something like this:

if (!isset($res[1]['result']['user']['entry'][1]) {
    // Not an array, so change the structure to an array with one element:
    $res[1]['result']['user']['entry'] = array($res[1]['result']['user']['entry']);
}

// Now process the data as if the service is always returning an array

answered Jun 27, 2014 at 18:09

laurent

91.2k83 gold badges310 silver badges445 bronze badges

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

2 Comments

Caynadian Over a year ago

The source function that is returning the data is converting some XML to array by doing a $xml = simplexml_load_string, $json = json_encode($xml) and then $ret_array = json_decode($json, true). Not sure if I can fix this or if there is a better way to do it. Regardless, your answer worked great! Thanks.

Manatax Over a year ago

Modifying the data to adjust to the code is not such a good idea in general, but it will "work".

Anthony · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-27 18:41:05Z

1

You could normalize the entry array like so:

if(!isset($entries['result']['user']['entry'][0])) {
    $entry_list[] = $entries['result']['user']['entry'];
} else {
    $entry_list = $entries['result']['user']['entry'];
}

Then operate on the new $entry_list array with foreach without concern.

answered Jun 27, 2014 at 18:41

Anthony

37.2k26 gold badges103 silver badges167 bronze badges

2 Comments

Caynadian Over a year ago

Thanks! This resulted in the simplest code I think.

Manatax Over a year ago

it looks simpler, but it's the same effect as @this.lau_'s with the extra assignment to $entry_list

Manatax · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-27 20:28:26Z

1

You can use is_array

$test = $res[1]['result']['user']['entry'];
if (is_array($test)) {
    foreach($test as $user) {
        $s = $user['@attributes']['name'];
        echo $s;
    }
} else {
    $s = $test['@attributes']['name'];
    echo $s;
}

edited Jun 27, 2014 at 20:28

answered Jun 27, 2014 at 18:29

Manatax

4,2436 gold badges32 silver badges41 bronze badges

3 Comments

Caynadian Over a year ago

That doesn't seem to work. is_array($test) evaluates true regardless of whether there is one entry or more. What I need to know I guess is if $res[1]['result']['user']['entry'][0] exists or does not exist.

Caynadian Over a year ago

Using your suggestion, I got the following to work: $test = $res[1]['result']['user']['entry']; if (is_array($test[0])) { foreach($test as $user) { echo $user['@attributes']['name']; } } else { echo $test['@attributes']['name']; }

Manatax Over a year ago

I was just missing the ['@attributes'] part... but if you test for $test[0] instead of $test, you will get an error when it's a single value, because $test[0] will not exist.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PHP 5.4 Illegal String Offset Error

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

2 Comments

3 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

2 Comments

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related