Assigning values in multidimensional array

Question

I have the following function:

public static function toArray($key, $value) {

    $e = explode('.', $key);

    $return = array();

    for($i = count($e) - 1; $i >=  0; $i--) {

        $return = array($e[$i] => $return);

    }

    return $return;

}

and the output:

Array
(
    [app] => Array
        (
            [shifts] => Array
                (
                    [total] => Array
                        (
                        )

                )

        )

)

And desired output:

Array
(
    [app] => Array
        (
            [shifts] => Array
                (
                    [total] => 3
                )

        )

)

What happens here is that a string is given and and creates a multi-dimensional array using the dot as the delimiter. However, I wish to assign the last array a value given by the function. This example is assuming that the string input is: "apps.shifts.total" with a value of 3. I'm trying to find an elegant way to achieve this without going into useless loops. Any inspiration would be much appreciated!

willeM_ Van Onsem · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-14 20:57:51Z

1

You're initialization step is wrong.

Try:

public static function toArray($key, $value) {
    $e = explode('.', $key);
    $return = $value; // MODIFIED HERE
    for($i = count($e) - 1; $i >=  0; $i--) {
        $return = array($e[$i] => $return);
    }
    return $return;
}

What you basically do is cascade to the top. But you start with an empty array. Instead, you can simply start with the value and cascade the array around it.

Example (using interactive php -a):

$ php -a
Interactive mode enabled

php > function toArray($key, $value) {
php {     $e = explode('.', $key);
php {     $return = $value; // MODIFIED HERE
php {     for($i = count($e) - 1; $i >=  0; $i--) {
php {         $return = array($e[$i] => $return);
php {     }
php {     return $return;
php { }
php > var_dump(toArray('apps.shifts.total',3));
array(1) {
  ["apps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["shifts"]=>
    array(1) {
      ["total"]=>
      int(3)
    }
  }
}

answered Dec 14, 2014 at 20:57

willeM_ Van Onsem

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1 Comment

Dimitri Over a year ago

Funny enough is that I had just realized what my mistake was and needed to assign the value instead of initializing an array. Thanks for reinforcing!

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