PHP, json_decode, array issue

Question

I have a multi-dimensional associative array that is encoded into JSON for database storage, and then decoded for display. I am having trouble accessing the resulting array elements.

An example JSON string:

{
    "service": "Star Break Repair",
    "options": {
        "Buy with me -60": "-60.00",
        "Bulseye Break Repair": "30.00"
    }
}

After decoding this using json_decode($array, true) (true gets an array, not an object), I get an array as expected:

Array
(
    [service] => Star Break Repair
    [options] => Array
        (
            [Buy with me -60] => -60.00
            [Bulseye Break Repair] => 30.00
        )

)

But when I try and echo a specific element:

echo @key($services['options'][0]);

or

echo $services['options'][0];

I get nothing, blank.

When I try to:

key($services['options'][0])

I get this error:

key() [function.key]: Passed variable is not an array or object in...

I've tried saving the options array as its own PHP variable, and the same thing happens. I can print_r() either array (the original with the nested options array, or just the options array), but when I try and print a specific element, nothing happens. When I try and print the element key, I get that PHP error.

What's going on?

I thought for some reason there was a way to access associative array elements via an index integer. Oh well. Ended up doing a foreach on the array anyways. Thanks for everyone's help. — AVProgrammer
– AVProgrammer, Commented Nov 28, 2011 at 21:30

nickb · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-28 21:22:57Z

3

This key doesn't exist:

echo $services['options'][0];

Use:

echo $services['options']['Buy with me -60'];
echo $services['options']['Bulseye Break Repair'];

Edit: To print the elements in $services['options'] without knowing their keys, just use a foreach loop:

foreach( $services['options'] as $key => $value)
{
    echo $value;
}

edited Nov 28, 2011 at 21:22

answered Nov 28, 2011 at 21:16

nickb

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6 Comments

AVProgrammer Over a year ago

How do I print those elements without knowing the keys and without a foreach loop? They will always be changing.

jeroen Over a year ago

@AVProgrammer You can loop through them using a foreach($services['options'] as $key => $value)

nickb Over a year ago

@AVProgrammer - I've updated my answer with a loop that prints the values regardless of the key.

preinheimer Over a year ago

var_dump(array_keys($arr['options']));

DaveRandom Over a year ago

@AVProgrammer You could do foreach ($services['options'] as $key => value) echo "$key: $value<br />\n"; to print all of them, or echo $services['options'][key($services['options'])]; to print the one at which the array pointer currently resides.

|

goat · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-28 21:41:06Z

1

I would just use foreach like others posted, but this seems kinda what you were trying to do.

echo key($services['options']);
next($services['options']);
echo key($services['options']);

Each array has a hidden position pointer, and those old array iterator functions like key() current() reset() next() etc... use and modify it. Nobody really uses those old array iterator functions anymore since php 4 introduced the foreach construct, which was a long time ago...

answered Nov 28, 2011 at 21:41

goat

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Comments

Brian Driscoll · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-28 21:21:22Z

0

The issue is that you have an associative array for your options, not an integer-indexed array.

So, if you want to access the elements of options you need to refer to them by their string keys:

$foo = $services['options']['Buy with me -60'];
$bar = $services['options']['Bulseye Break Repair'];

Now, if you don't know the keys, you can use a foreach loop to iterate over your options array:

foreach($services['options'] as $okey=>$oval) {
    echo $okey; //'Buy with me -60', 'Bulseye Break Repair'
    echo $oval; //'-60.00', '30.00'
}

answered Nov 28, 2011 at 21:21

Brian Driscoll

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4 Comments

AVProgrammer Over a year ago

This is ultimately how I did it. I thought for some reason there was a way to access associative array elements via an index integer. Oh well.

nickb Over a year ago

This answer looks eerily similar to an earlier answer.

Brian Driscoll Over a year ago

@nickb Not sure what you're implying here. I got the notification that answers were posted while I was writing my answer, but obviously I didn't get to see them until after I posted mine. So if you're implying that I rehashed an earlier answer I'd strongly suggest that you reconsider your position.

Brian Driscoll Over a year ago

@nickb If you are in fact implying that I cribbed your answer, it's likely worth noting that I posted my answer 2 minutes before you updated yours.

preinheimer · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-28 21:17:30Z

0

Check the way you're accessing elements

<?php

$foo = '{"service":"Star Break Repair","options":{"Buy with me -60":"-60.00","Bulseye Break Repair":"30.00"}}';

$arr = json_decode($foo, true);

var_dump($arr);

echo $arr['options']['Bulseye Break Repair']; //30.00

answered Nov 28, 2011 at 21:17

preinheimer

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