Convert a string into an array

Question

I have the following string:

key:surname +++ value:Tesla|||key:name +++ value:Nikola|||key:age +++ value:86|||

How with the PHP I can convert it into an associative array? Like:

echo $arr['surname'];
Tesla

I'm trying it, but can't write a correct expression:

$str= "key:surname +++ value:Tesla|||key:name +++ value:Nikola|||key:age +++ value:86|||"; 
preg_match_all("regex_here",$str,$out); 
unset($out[0]); 
$out = array_combine($out[1],$out[2]) ; 
print_r($out);

Thanks.

If this is your design of an information storage system, I would suggest you look at json (specifically json_encode and json_decode) as an easier, better designed system. — Jess
– Jess, Commented Oct 14, 2011 at 4:26
Just a note: you're aware of PHP's serialize and unserialize functions? See: nz.php.net/manual/en/function.serialize.php — KingJackaL
– KingJackaL, Commented Oct 14, 2011 at 4:28

Edoardo Pirovano · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-14 04:32:07Z

2

This should do what you need:

$str= "key:surname +++ value:Tesla|||key:name +++ value:Nikola|||key:age +++ value:86|||"; 
preg_match_all("/key:(.*?) \+\+\+ value:(.*?)\|\|\|/", $str, $out);
$out = array_combine($out[1], $out[2]) ; 
print_r($out);

As mentioned by others, though, if you're the one storing the data like that, there are many better ways to store the data, including serializing and JSON, which you might want to look into.

answered Oct 14, 2011 at 4:32

Edoardo Pirovano

8,3543 gold badges28 silver badges32 bronze badges

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

1 Comment

Francois Deschenes Over a year ago

This doesn't work. It only returns the last match. The array_combine is wrong. Otherwise, a decent solution.

JRL · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-14 04:53:12Z

1

Something like this:

preg_match_all("/:(\w+).*?:(\w+)/", $str, $matches);
var_dump(array_combine($matches[1], $matches[2]));

answered Oct 14, 2011 at 4:53

JRL

78.2k18 gold badges103 silver badges146 bronze badges

Comments

xingyue · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-14 04:35:36Z

0

why there has three + and three | . If it's you make it that. I think you could change it to one. Then the explode function can help you !

answered Oct 14, 2011 at 4:35

xingyue

1321 silver badge9 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Convert a string into an array

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related