Php loop to create variables

Question

I have a list of variables i need to create like so:

$meta_2_length = get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), 'meta-2-length', true );
$meta_2_loft = get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), 'meta-2-loft', true );
$meta_2_lie = get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), 'meta-2-lie', true );
$meta_2_bounce = get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), 'meta-2-bounce', true );

I need to make these for the numbers 2 - 14 so I figured the best way would be a loop. I am new to php but want to write as clean as possible. I thought this might work:

for($i = 0; $i <= 14; $i++) {
   ${"meta_$i_length"} = "get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), 'meta-$i-length', true );";
}

but when it doesnt seem to be working when I echo $meta_3_length

Numeric variables like this are almost always wrong. This is what arrays are for. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Oct 14, 2015 at 18:45

TheZozoOwner · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-14 18:36:15Z

1

My recommendation for you is create an array. And give the array values in the loop.

example

$foo = array();    
for($i = 0; $i <= 14; $i++) {
   $foo[] = "get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), 'meta-$i-length', true );";
}

then echo data by using the array

answered Oct 14, 2015 at 18:36

TheZozoOwner

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2 Comments

Barmar Over a year ago

Why did you put the call to get_post_meta in quotes?

Packy Over a year ago

If I use this (without qoutes around get_post_meta) and I echo it out like <?php if( !empty( $meta_length[3] ) ) { echo $meta_length[3]; } ?> I get nothing.

Barmar · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-14 18:50:12Z

0

Use an array of associativer arrays.

$metas = array();
$id = get_the_ID();
for ($i = 0; $i <= 14; $i++) {
    $metas[] = array(
        'length' => get_post_meta($id, "meta-$i-length", true),
        'loft' => get_post_meta($id, "meta-$i-loft", true),
        'lie' => get_post_meta($id, "meta-$i-lie", true),
        'bounce' => get_post_meta($id, "meta-$i-bounce", true)
    );
}

Now you can do echo $metas[3]['length'];.

answered Oct 14, 2015 at 18:50

Barmar

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1 Comment

Packy Over a year ago

Worked perfect and clean. Also gives me a better understanding of how to set up PHP variables like i would in JS

jh314 · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-14 18:37:40Z

0

You can use variable variables:

for($i = 0; $i <= 14; $i++) {
   $varname = "meta_$i_length";
   $$varname = get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), 'meta-$i-length', true );
}

answered Oct 14, 2015 at 18:37

jh314

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Comments

nessuno · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-14 18:58:50Z

0

You can use extract with an associative array:

$arr = [];
for($i = 0; $i <= 14; $i++) {
    $arr["meta_{$i}__length"] = get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), "meta-{$i}-length", true);
}
extract($arr);

Then, you can do echo $meta_3__length and get the result of the function call get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), "meta-3-length', true);

I hope it helps

answered Oct 14, 2015 at 18:58

nessuno

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