Convert PHP string with an array statement into a real array

Question

I got a string var named: $taxonomy_str

For example, echo $taxonomy_str will display:

array('relation' => 'AND', 
  array('taxonomy' => category, 
        'field' => 'id', 
        'terms' => array( 41, 42 ), 
        'operator' => 'IN'), 
  array('taxonomy' => geography,
        'field' => 'id',
        'terms' => array( 20, 29 ),
        'operator' => 'IN')
)

I need a way to convert this string with an array statement into a real array, how can I achieve this using PHP?

Thanks.

How is this variable being generated? The answer to your question would be eval(), but 999 times out of 1000 there is a safer and more elegant alternative to accomplish what you want before you have to resort to eval(). — NullUserException
– NullUserException, Commented Nov 30, 2011 at 22:18
Yes the string is generated and sanitized in a really safe way. Could You provide an example please? — José Pablo Orozco Marín
– José Pablo Orozco Marín, Commented Nov 30, 2011 at 22:37
serialize() and unserialize() OR use combinations of json_encode() and json_decode() — Seyeong Jeong
– Seyeong Jeong, Commented Nov 30, 2011 at 22:49

Mark Elliot · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-01 00:14:34Z

4

A somewhat trivial thing to do is simply eval:

eval('$foo = ' . $taxonomy_str . ';');
// $foo now contains the outer array

(from the comments) maybe better form:

$foo = eval('return ' . $taxonomy_str . ';');

This literally executes $taxonomy_str as if it were source, so any valid PHP provided as input will run. There's a certain level of danger here if you were to say, take $taxonomy_str as input from a user.

edited Dec 1, 2011 at 0:14

answered Nov 30, 2011 at 22:19

Mark Elliot

77.4k23 gold badges147 silver badges162 bronze badges

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

3 Comments

Cyclone Over a year ago

Assuming the input string is trustworthy, this is good. If it has any potential to come from the user at all, this is a horrible, horrible idea. I'm not going to up or downvote this, because it really all depends on where the variable comes from. If the variable can be totally trusted, this is a good solution

Michael Mior Over a year ago

Actually, you would need eval("return $taxonomy_str;").

Michael Mior Over a year ago

@NullUserException Too late in the day. I didn't properly read the example. Although I would personally use $foo = eval("return $taxonomy_str;");.

ldiqual · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-30 22:19:15Z

4

You can use eval(), but it's really not safe if you take your string from the user input.

answered Nov 30, 2011 at 22:19

ldiqual

15.4k7 gold badges55 silver badges94 bronze badges

Comments

sparkle · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-30 22:25:21Z

1

You can use eval() function. For more information look in PHP official documentations

answered Nov 30, 2011 at 22:25

sparkle

7,41824 gold badges78 silver badges148 bronze badges

Comments

NullUserException · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-30 22:30:42Z

1

You can use the eval function. Make sure your string is safe and has no dodgy stuff.

edited Nov 30, 2011 at 22:30

NullUserException

85.8k31 gold badges212 silver badges239 bronze badges

answered Nov 30, 2011 at 22:20

Seyeong Jeong

11.1k2 gold badges31 silver badges39 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Convert PHP string with an array statement into a real array

4 Answers 4

3 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

3 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related