PHP - Store an array returned by a function in an already existing array, one by one

Question

Very simplified example:

function returnArray() {
  return array('First','Second','Third');
}

$arr = array('hello','world');
$arr[] = returnArray();
print_r($arr);

I was (wrongly) expecting to see $arr containing 5 elements, but it actually contains this (and I understand it makes sense):

Array
(
    [0] => hello
    [1] => world
    [2] => Array
        (
            [0] => First
            [1] => Second
            [2] => Third
        )

)

Easily enough, I "fixed" it using a temporary array, scanning through its elements, and adding the elements one by one to the $arr array.

But I guess/hope that there must be a way to tell PHP to add the elements automatically one by one, instead of creating a "child" array within the first one, right? Thanks!

04FS · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-29 09:52:40Z

3

You can use array_merge,

$arr = array_merge($arr, returnArray());

will result in

Array
(
    [0] => hello
    [1] => world
    [2] => First
    [3] => Second
    [4] => Third
)

This will work smoothly here, since your arrays both have numeric keys. If the keys were strings, you’d had to be more careful (resp. decide if that would be the result you want, or not), because

If the input arrays have the same string keys, then the later value for that key will overwrite the previous one. If, however, the arrays contain numeric keys, the later value will not overwrite the original value, but will be appended.

answered Jan 29, 2019 at 9:52

04FS

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Swaroop Deval · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-29 09:54:27Z

0

You are appending the resulting array to previously created array. Instead of the use array merge.

function returnArray() {
  return array('First','Second','Third');
}

$arr = array('hello','world');
$arr = array_merge($arr, returnArray());
print_r($arr);

answered Jan 29, 2019 at 9:54

Swaroop Deval

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