How can i convert this multidimensional array into correct JSON with php?

Question

I have an array that contains multiple entries of books. I store each books element with its unique id as its key in each. I'm struggling on generating correct JSON from this.

When i json_encode on the array it just generates each sub arrays json not grouping the elements by key but by which array they're in.

this is my multidimensional array

$booksarray = array("book title" => array(), "book isbn" => array(), "book borrowedcount" => array());

Im completely lost how to get elements out of each sub array and then group them together so that they output something like,

{"results": 
 {"course": "CC120", "books": 
   { "book": 
     [{"id": "12345", "title": "javascript", "isbn": "123456789", "borrowedcount": "45"}] } }

I have the XML outputing as follows

<results>
 <course>cc120</course>
  <books>
   <book id="9876" title="html" isbn="000001234" borrowedcount="56">
   <book id="12345" title="javascript" isbn="123456789" borrowedcount="45">
   <book id="222" title="php5" isbn="55555555" borrowedcount="22">
   <book id="23788" title="XML" isbn="99988877" borrowedcount="5">
  </books>
</results>

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Does json_encode() not work? php.net/manual/en/function.json-encode.php — Patrick James McDougle
– Patrick James McDougle, Commented Feb 26, 2013 at 17:03
The easiest way would be to get the php array into the correct format, then do the json_encode. — jchapa
– jchapa, Commented Feb 26, 2013 at 17:03

MrCode · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-26 17:07:49Z

2

Convert the array into the desired format, then json_encode() it:

$newArray = array();

foreach($booksarray["book title"] as $key => $title)
{
    $newArray[] = array(
        'id' => $key,
        'title' => $title,
        'isbn' => $booksarray["book isbn"][$key],
        'borrowedcount' => $booksarray["book borrowedcount"][$key]
    );
}

echo json_encode($newArray);

answered Feb 26, 2013 at 17:07

MrCode

64.6k10 gold badges95 silver badges114 bronze badges

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

3 Comments

prodigitalson Over a year ago

Better to use ISBN as the "authoritative" source for looping i think.

Nathan Barton Over a year ago

Thank you this worked perfectly. My knowledge of arrays definitely needs work but thank you very much for the answers!

MrCode Over a year ago

@prodigitalson It won't make a difference unless there are books that don't have a title but have an ISBN. In any case, the better solution is to parse it into the desired format originally, instead of parsing into the three arrays and then re-formatting it.

jchapa · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-26 17:05:41Z

1

It looks like your array isn't in the format you'd like it to be in first. Once your php array is in the same structure that you want the json to be in, json_encode will work.

e.g.

$resultsArray = array(
    "results" => array(
        "course" => "CC120", 
        "books" => array(
            "book" => array(
                "id" => "12345", 
                "title" => "javascript"
                )
            )
        )
    );

$strJson = json_encode($resultsArray);

answered Feb 26, 2013 at 17:05

jchapa

4,0363 gold badges29 silver badges38 bronze badges

Comments

Sean · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-26 17:07:31Z

0

I think the problem might be in the way that you have structured your array. Are you able to change it?

I would suggest an array structure as follows:

$booksarray = array(
    "9876" => array(
         "title" => "html",
         "isbn" => "000001234", 
         "borrowedcount" => "56"
    ),
    "12345" => array(
         "title" => "javascript",
         "isbn" => "123456789", 
         "borrowedcount" => "45"
    )
);

json_encode() should then output this in the format you want.

E.g.

{"9876":{"title":"html","isbn":"000001234","borrowedcount":"56"},"12345":{"title":"javascript","isbn":"123456789","borrowedcount":"45"}}

answered Feb 26, 2013 at 17:07

Sean

1,2969 silver badges15 bronze badges

1 Comment

Sean Over a year ago

I misread the output format you wanted this in, jchapa's response is probably the cleanest way to achieve this.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How can i convert this multidimensional array into correct JSON with php?

3 Answers 3

3 Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

3 Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related