array values to nested array with PHP

Question

I'm trying to figure out how I can use the values an indexed array as path for another array. I'm exploding a string to an array, and based on all values in that array I'm looking for a value in another array.

Example:

$haystack['my']['string']['is']['nested'] = 'Hello';
$var = 'my@string@is@nested';
$items = explode('@', $var);

// .. echo $haystack[... items..?]

The number of values may differ, so it's not an option to do just $haystack[$items[0][$items[1][$items[2][$items[3]].

Any suggestions?

Sougata Bose · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-05 12:31:48Z

2

You can use a loop -

$haystack['my']['string']['is']['nested'] = 'Hello';
$var = 'my@string@is@nested';
$items = explode('@', $var);

$temp = $haystack;
foreach($items as $v) {
    $temp = $temp[$v]; // Store the current array value
}
echo $temp;

DEMO

answered Aug 5, 2015 at 12:31

Sougata Bose

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1 Comment

Ben Over a year ago

Thanks for helping me out. Works like a charm. +1 and accepted.

Jim · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-05 12:30:52Z

2

You can use a loop to grab each subsequent nested array. I.e:

$haystack['my']['string']['is']['nested'] = 'Hello';
$var = 'my@string@is@nested';
$items = explode('@', $var);
$val = $haystack;
foreach($items as $key){
    $val = $val[$key];
}
echo $val;

Note that this does no checking, you likely want to check that $val[$key] exists.

Example here: http://codepad.org/5ei9xS91

answered Aug 5, 2015 at 12:30

Jim

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3 Comments

Ben Over a year ago

Thanks for helping me out. Works like a charm, neat solution. @b0s3 was just a bit earlier. Can only accept one answer. +1

Narendrasingh Sisodia Over a year ago

@ben Nope first answer was posted by Jim

Ben Over a year ago

Strange, my browser is telling me otherwise ;) Nonetheless, thanks :)

user5192753 · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-05 12:44:45Z

2

Or you can use a recursive function:

function extractValue($array, $keys)
{
    return empty($keys) ? $array : extractValue($array[array_shift($keys)], $keys) ; 
}

$haystack = array('my' => array('string' => array('is' => array('nested' => 'hello'))));
echo extractValue($haystack, explode('@', 'my@string@is@nested'));

answered Aug 5, 2015 at 12:44

user5192753

1 Comment

Ben Over a year ago

Thanks for taking time to respond. A working solution has been provided, while yours works too. Have a nice day. +1

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