Trying to remove duplicates from JSON array with array_unique and array_values

Question

I was following this but it still doesn't work for me: How to remove duplicate data of JSON object using PHP

In my PHP file I have 3 JSON arrays:

{"results":[{"cat_id":2,"cat_name":"veterinarian"},{"cat_id":3,"cat_name":"electrician"},
{"cat_id":4,"cat_name":"dentist"}]}

Array2:

 {"results":[{"cat_id":"8","cat_name":"dental hygienist"},{"cat_id":"5","cat_name":"stocktaker"},
{"cat_id":"9","cat_name":"builder"}]}

Array3:

{"results":[{"cat_id":4,"cat_name":"dentist"},{"cat_id":5,"cat_name":"stocktaker"},
{"cat_id":3,"cat_name":"electrician"}]}

I want to merge these and remove duplicates. I'm trying like this:

//this works good, all merged into one
$array1AndArray2AndArray3 = array_merge_recursive($array1,$array2, $array3);

//now I want to remove duplicates:
$uniqueArray = array_values(array_unique($array1AndArray2AndArray3, SORT_REGULAR));

echo "Unique array is " . json_encode($uniqueArray);

But I am getting:

Unique array is [[{"cat_id":2,"cat_name":"veterinarian"},{"cat_id":3,"cat_name":"electrician"},
{"cat_id":4,"cat_name":"dentist"},
{"cat_id":"8","cat_name":"dental hygienist"},{"cat_id":"5","cat_name":"stocktaker"},
{"cat_id":"9","cat_name":"builder"},
{"cat_id":4,"cat_name":"dentist"},
{"cat_id":5,"cat_name":"stocktaker"},
{"cat_id":3,"cat_name":"electrician"}]]

As you can see, duplicates are not removed, and there's extra [] and "results" is missing.

Can you tell me how I can fix this, or another way to do it?

CHarris · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-29 23:50:58Z

1

Use below solution

$array1 = '{"results":[{"cat_id":2,"cat_name":"veterinarian"},{"cat_id":3,"cat_name":"electrician"},{"cat_id":4,"cat_name":"dentist"}]}';
$array2 = '{"results":[{"cat_id":"8","cat_name":"dental hygienist"},{"cat_id":"5","cat_name":"stocktaker"},{"cat_id":"9","cat_name":"builder"}]}';
$array3 = '{"results":[{"cat_id":4,"cat_name":"dentist"},{"cat_id":5,"cat_name":"stocktaker"},{"cat_id":3,"cat_name":"electrician"}]}';

$array1 =  json_decode($array1, TRUE);
$array2 =  json_decode($array2, TRUE);
$array3 =  json_decode($array3, TRUE);

$array4 = array_merge_recursive($array1['results'], $array2['results'], $array3['results']);

$uniqueArray['results'] = array_values(array_unique($array4, SORT_REGULAR));

edited May 29, 2018 at 23:50

CHarris

2,8039 gold badges49 silver badges77 bronze badges

answered May 29, 2018 at 23:30

Jaydp

1,0499 silver badges17 bronze badges

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

4 Comments

TCooper Over a year ago

Hehe looks familiar, @CHarris, maybe add into your post that the JSON arrays are converted for display and/or are stored as PHP arrays to begin with

Jaydp Over a year ago

@TCooper - I had updated your code with that but you may be removed that answer :)

TCooper Over a year ago

yeah, didn't want to clutter the page with useless info (my answer). Sorry to hijack your answer Jaydp - I recently answered similarly

CHarris Over a year ago

Good stuff, thanks - just made a small edit to get the 'results' part.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Trying to remove duplicates from JSON array with array_unique and array_values

1 Answer 1

4 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

4 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related