convert an array into individual strings

Question

I have the following arrays and I would like to convert each one of them into individual strings. In other words, break the array into individual pieces.

  $formatsArray = $_POST['formats'];
      $topicsArray = $_POST['topics'];

This is because I would like to include the individual strings in the following query "

  $resources = "select * from resources where
                    stage LIKE '%".$stage."%'
                    AND format LIKE '%".$formats."%'";


      $run_query = mysqli_query($con, $resources);

This is because format expect an individual string for comparison, such as lets assume the array is ["video", "blogs", "articles"], it wouldn't work if format was to be compared with video,blogs,articles but rather video, blogs or articles.

I hope this is clear, and for any clarification, please advise.

All the best,

Update:

$formats = explode(',', $formatsArray);
      $topics = explode(',', $topicsArray);


      $resources = "select * from resources where
                    stage LIKE '%".$stage."%'
                    AND format LIKE '%".$formats."%' AND topic LIKE '%".$topics."%' ";

update:

$run_query = mysqli_query($con, $resources);


  while($row = mysqli_fetch_array($run_query)) {

    $data[] = array(
      'format' => $row['format'],
      'title' => $row['title'],
      'costs' => $row['cost'],
      'stage' => $row['stage'],
      'topic' => $row['topic'],
      'link' => $row['link']
    );
  }

Update

  include('db.php');


  $query = 'select * from resources where ';
  $query .= 'stage LIKE :stage and';
  $execute[':stage'] = '%' . $stage . '%';
  if(!empty($_POST['formats'])){
  foreach($_POST['formats'] as $key => $format) {
      $query .= 'format LIKE :format' . $key . ' and ';
      $execute[':format' . $key] = '%' . trim($format) . '%';
  }
  }
  if(!empty($_POST['topics'])){
  foreach($_POST['topics'] as $key => $topic) {
      $query .= 'topic LIKE :topic' . $key . ' and ';
      $execute[':topic' . $key] = '%' . trim($topic)  . '%';
  }
  }
  $query = rtrim($query, ' and ');
  if(!empty($execute)) {
      $stmt = $con->prepare($query);
      $stmt->execute($execute);
  } else {
      echo 'You must search for something';
  }


      while($row = mysqli_fetch_array($query)) {

        $data[] = array(
          'format' => $row['format'],
          'title' => $row['title'],
          'costs' => $row['cost'],
          'stage' => $row['stage'],
          'topic' => $row['topic'],
          'link' => $row['link']
        );
      }

So a comma is the separator? Use explode then iterate through the array and build your query. Use prepared statements. — chris85
– chris85, Commented Aug 31, 2015 at 0:51
thanks for the response. the comma is not a seperator. in the db, you have for instance "video" or "blogs" or "articles" for example, so if the array is implode with a comma such as video,blogs,articles it wouldn't match any entry. could you elaborate a bit more on your solution — code_legend
– code_legend, Commented Aug 31, 2015 at 0:54
Not implode, explode. So you have $_POST['formats'] which is video,blogs,articles right? So if you explode on , then iterate through that array you will have each term separately.. — chris85
– chris85, Commented Aug 31, 2015 at 0:56
thanks i have added an update at the bottom of my initial post. how would i proceed with the next step — code_legend
– code_legend, Commented Aug 31, 2015 at 1:01
$formats and $topics always have the same number of elements? — chris85
– chris85, Commented Aug 31, 2015 at 1:03

kittykittybangbang · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-31 02:09:13Z

1

Ignoring the necessity of prepared statements, you could do:

  $formats = implode('","', $formatsArray);
  $topics = implode('","', $topicsArray);

  $resources = "select * from resources where
                stage LIKE '%".$stage."%'
                AND format IN(".$formats.") AND topic IN(\"".$topics."\") ";

By adding the " before and after each , when you implode each array, your array would become e.g.

video","blogs","articles

So, we need to add the " to the beginning and end of each IN list. This will make the final query like:

select * from resources where
stage LIKE '%".$stage."%'
AND format IN("video","blogs","articles") AND ...

edited Aug 31, 2015 at 2:09

answered Aug 31, 2015 at 1:27

kittykittybangbang

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4 Comments

aleksikallio Over a year ago

$formatsArray isn't a PHP array in the OPs post. Explode first and then implode with quotes. Also, in the query you've escaped the quotes around $topics but not around $formats. This might be confusing.

kittykittybangbang Over a year ago

Thank you, @onik -- I guess the variable name threw me off. :P And the missing escaped quotes was totally my bad, thanks for catching.

code_legend Over a year ago

thanks. i unfortunatetly get the following error: trim() expects parameter to be string, array given

kittykittybangbang Over a year ago

@user3907211 Sorry about that -- I thought your $formatsArray was a string. Answer is edited and should work now -- although it looks like @chris85's answer did the trick for you.

chris85 · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-31 02:37:17Z

1

I think this would do it. This also will resolve the injection hole by using prepared statements.

$query = 'select * from resources where ';
if(!empty($_POST['formats'])){ 
foreach($_POST['formats'] as $key => $format) {
    $query .= 'stage LIKE :stage' . $key . ' or ';
    $execute[':stage' . $key] = '%' . trim($format) . '%';
}
}
if(!empty($_POST['topics'])){
foreach($_POST['topics'] as $key => $topic) {
    $query .= 'topic LIKE :topic' . $key . ' or ';
    $execute[':topic' . $key] = '%' . trim($topic)  . '%';
}
}
$query = rtrim($query, ' or ');
if(!empty($execute)) {
    echo $query;
    print_r($execute);
    //$stmt = $mysqli->prepare($query);
    //$stmt->execute($execute);
} else {
    echo 'You must search for something';
}

Gives you a query of

select * from resources where stage LIKE :stage0 or stage LIKE :stage1 or topic LIKE :topic0 or topic LIKE :topic1 or topic LIKE :topic2 or topic LIKE :topic3

and bound values of:

Array
(
    [:stage0] => %test%
    [:stage1] => %test1%
    [:topic0] => %value1%
    [:topic1] => %value2%
    [:topic2] => %value3%
    [:topic3] => %value4%
)

Here's the initial code I had for when I thought the data was paired..

foreach($formats as $key => $format) {
    $topic = $topics[$key];
    $query .= '(stage LIKE :stage' . $key . ' and topic LIKE :topic' . $key . ') or ';
    $execute[':stage' . $key] = '%' . trim($format) . '%';
    $execute[':topic' . $key] = '%' . trim($topic)  . '%';
}

A few links on prepared statements:
http://php.net/manual/en/mysqli.quickstart.prepared-statements.php
http://php.net/manual/en/mysqli.prepare.php
http://php.net/manual/en/mysqli-stmt.execute.php

edited Aug 31, 2015 at 2:37

answered Aug 31, 2015 at 1:38

chris85

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19 Comments

code_legend Over a year ago

thanks. not too familiar with prepared statement. why //$stmt = $mysqli->prepare($query); //$stmt->execute($execute); commented out

chris85 Over a year ago

Oo you can uncomment that, that was just for an example of how to use it. I don't have a DB set up so can't execute.

code_legend Over a year ago

should i comment out echo $query; print_r($execute);

code_legend Over a year ago

thanks. just one minor request. because i wasn't really familiar with prepared statement i ommited included the following code, i have added under my initial post. would any change have to be made to them?

chris85 Over a year ago

Okay, first please unaccept my answer. You should accept an answer when it works. Going forward what array are you referring to, isn't $_POST['formats'] a string? If not then how did $formats = explode(',', $formatsArray); work?

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