Convert list into an array using php. How?

Question

I have a function called listelements(), which outputs text like <li>text1</li><li>text2</li>.

I have more than 500 elements. Now I want to convert it into an array.

Can anyone help me? Thanks.

Note: I'm using php

Update:

The thing i want to achieve is alphabetical navigation. As of now my function displays links in list order. Instead of that i want to hold that in an array. Then i would like to filter them using characters.

$valid_characters = range( 'a' , 'z' );
$valid_numbers = array(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0);

When the user click "A" i would like to display only links start with A. Hope this explanation helps you guys for better understanding my question

What is the input into listelemets()? Use that, it is likely an array itself. — dotancohen
– dotancohen, Commented Feb 11, 2012 at 11:32
wouldn't it be easier to just modify the function to output an array in the first place instead of the html code? — Sirko
– Sirko, Commented Feb 11, 2012 at 11:32

iblue · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-11 11:38:28Z

3

<?php
$output = listelements();
$array = explode("<li>", $output);

//First element will be empty, so remove it
unset($array[0]);

// Now remove "</li>" at end of input
array_walk($array, create_function('&$val', '$val = str_replace("</li>", "", $val)'));

// $array should now contain your elements

edited Feb 11, 2012 at 11:38

answered Feb 11, 2012 at 11:32

iblue

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2 Comments

axiomer Over a year ago

In case there is something between 2 li-s, this does not work fine.

iblue Over a year ago

Sure, but OP specified the format as multiple concatations of "<li>$element</li>", so no problem there.

Simon Putz · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-11 11:55:34Z

2

explode won't do the trick nicely for html tags (considering them as multiple delimiters).

if CPU time is not a concern, try using preg_match, example below:

<?PHP

$input='<li>text1</li><li>text2</li><LI><p>text3</p></lI><Li>text fou4r</li>';

preg_match_all('(<(li|Li|LI|lI)>(.*)</(li|Li|LI|lI)>)siU', $input, $output);

print_r($output[2]);
?>

output:

Array

    (

        [0] => text1
        [1] => text2
        [2] => <p>text3</p>
        [3] => text fou4r
    )

answered Feb 11, 2012 at 11:55

Simon Putz

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3 Comments

lll Over a year ago

See this

cmbuckley Over a year ago

If your pattern is case insensitive, why are you matching all variations of case? And even then why would you do that instead of [LlIi]?

lamasgergo Over a year ago

I think its better solution than iblue's above... Use regexp instead of explode and str_replace.

axiomer · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-11 11:43:18Z

0

$strarr=explode("<li>",$string); //Breaks every <li>
$i=(-1); //Makes -1 as array starts at 0
$arr=array(); //this will be your array
foreach($strarr as $expl){ //Go through all li's
$ai=explode("</li>",$expl);//Get between the li. If there is something between </li> and <li>, it won't return it as you don't need it
if($i!=(-1))$arr[$i]=$ai[0]; //First isn't valid
$i=$i+1; //add i plus one to make it a real array
}

edited Feb 11, 2012 at 11:43

answered Feb 11, 2012 at 11:29

axiomer

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2 Comments

Damien Pirsy Over a year ago

This has syntax errors; explode() needs an assignment, and there's no "new" keywords for arrays

axiomer Over a year ago

Sorry, my bad, I always forget that. Corrected.

Dylan B · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-30 08:28:17Z

you can use simple_html_dom https://simplehtmldom.sourceforge.io/manual.htm

require_once(./simple_html_dom.php);
$html = "<ul class=''><li class=''>Swagger transforms unfreshmen into legends of confidence</li><li class=''>Red Zone collection</li><li class=''>Enhances awesomeness</li><li class=''>Continue your confidence with Swagger Anti-perspirant & Deodorant and Body Spray</li><li class=''>Old Spice Red Zone Swagger Scent Men’s Bar Soap</li></ul>";

$result = li_to_array($html);
var_dump($result ); 

    
function li_to_array($str)
{
    if (is_string($str) && !empty($str)) {
        $html = str_get_html($str);
        $results= array();
        $response_results = $html->find('li');
        foreach ($response_results as $response_result){
            array_push($results, $response_result->plaintext);
        } 
        unset($html); //release memory

        return  $results;
    } else {
        return false;
    }
}

KoolKabin · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-11 11:42:51Z

-1

Use "preg_match".

Here is more detail: http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.preg-match-all.php

answered Feb 11, 2012 at 11:42

KoolKabin

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1 Comment

lll Over a year ago

stackoverflow.com/questions/590747/…

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