PHP convert array to serialized string suitable as an array key

Question

I have several associative arrays in PHP that looks like this:

$data1 = array("foo" => "one", "animal" => "mice");
$data2 = array("foo" => "two", "animal" => "cats");
....

I want to create another associative array, using the serialized values of the previous arrays are used as the array keys. For example:

$newArray = array("data1's serialized key" => "someNewValue", ... );

Are serialized arrays suitable for being used as array keys?

Do they contain any unacceptable characters?

Do I need to do something more to the serialized string to make it acceptable as an array key (while still keeping its uniqueness)?

Ikari · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-24 05:52:21Z

1

Are serialized arrays suitable for being used as array keys?

Yup! As far as I know you can use serialized arrays as a key in another array. But the I cannot think of any use-case for this. :P

Do they contain any unacceptable characters?

No, until and unless you specify any unacceptable characters in the original array.

Do I need to do something more to the serialized string to make it acceptable as an array key (while still keeping its uniqueness)?

Nope.

So, you code would look like:

$data1 = array("foo" => "one", "animal" => "mice");
$data2 = array("foo" => "two", "animal" => "cats");
$serializedArrayKey1 = serialize($data1);
$serializedArrayKey2 = serialize($data2);
$newArray = array($serializedArrayKey1 => "Value for data1", ...);

answered Mar 24, 2016 at 5:52

Ikari

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