php build simpler array from a multidimensional (json reponse) array

Question

I am trying to get data from a multidimensional array I got from a Facebook response, into a simpler array.

the json data is as seen below.

{
"albums": {
    "data": [
        {
            "photos": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "name": "a photo name",
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xlp1/t31.0-8/s720x720/XXXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-0/XXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "a photo name",
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-photos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/XXXXXXXXXXXX",
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "a photo name",
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-photos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "a photo name",
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/XXXXXXXXXXXX",
                    }
                ],
                "paging": {
                    "cursors": {
                        "before": "MTXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXZD",
                        "after": "MXXXXXXXXXXXXXZD"
                    }
                }
            },
        },
        {
            "photos": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/XXXXXXXXXXXX",
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "XXXXXXXXX",
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/XXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/XXXXXXXXXXXX",
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "XXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/XXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-0/p130x130/XXXXXXXXXXX",
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "a photo name",
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/XXXXXXXXXXXX",
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "a photo name",
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-0/XXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpt1/v/t1.0-0/XXXXXXXXXX",
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "a photo name",
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t31.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xat1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/XXXXXXXX",
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "a photo name",
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXX",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/XXXXXXXX",
                    }
                ],
                "paging": {
                    "cursors": {
                        "before": "MTXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXgZDXXXX",
                        "after": "MTcXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXD"
                    }
                }
            },
        },
        {
            "photos": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/1",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/",
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "source": "https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/11",
                    }
                ],
                "paging": {
                    "cursors": {
                        "before": "MOIXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "after": "MTXXXXXXXXXXXXXD"
                    }
                }
            },
        },
        {
            "photos": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpl1/t31.0-8/s720x720/",
                        "picture": "https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-0/s130x130/",
                    }
                ],
                "paging": {
                    "cursors": {
                        "before": "MTXXXXXXXXXXXSJKSDJZDZD",
                        "after": "MTdXXXXXXXXDKSJKDNXXXXXXXXXpZD"
                    }
                }
            },
        }
    ],
    "paging": {
        "cursors": {
            "before": "MXXXXXXXXXXXXXXD",
            "after": "MXXXXXXXXXXXXJR"
        }
    }
},
"feed": {
    "data": [
        {
        },
        {
            "attachments": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "media": {
                            "image": {
                                "height": 480,
                                "src": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/s720x720/",
                                "width": 720
                            }
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "attachments": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "media": {
                            "image": {
                                "height": 102,
                                "src": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xta1/v/t1.0-9/",
                                "width": 197
                            }
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "attachments": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "media": {
                            "image": {
                                "height": 276,
                                "src": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpl1/t31.0-8/s720x720/",
                                "width": 720
                            }
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
        },
        {
            "attachments": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "description": "XXXXXXXXXXXXKE",
                        "media": {
                            "image": {
                                "height": 540,
                                "src": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/",
                                "width": 540
                            }
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "attachments": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "description": "XXXXXXXXXXJ",
                        "media": {
                            "image": {
                                "height": 375,
                                "src": "https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/",
                                "width": 500
                            }
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "attachments": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "description": "XXXXXXXXXXXX",
                        "media": {
                            "image": {
                                "height": 540,
                                "src": "https://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-0/p180x540/",
                                "width": 720
                            }
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "attachments": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "description": "XXXXXXXXXXXXp",
                        "media": {
                            "image": {
                                "height": 405,
                                "src": "https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/",
                                "width": 720
                            }
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "attachments": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "media": {
                            "image": {
                                "height": 392,
                                "src": "https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/",
                                "width": 626
                            }
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "attachments": {
                "data": [
                    {
                        "description": "XXXXXXXX",
                        "media": {
                            "image": {
                                "height": 255,
                                "src": "https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/",
                                "width": 208
                            }
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "paging": {
        "previous": "https://graph.facebook.com/v2.5/1XXXXXXXXXXXX6/feed?fields=a",
        "next": "https://graph.facebook.com/v2.5/1SXXXXXXXXXXXXX96/feed?fields="
    }
},
}

I want to end up with an array like this:

Array
(
[photo] => Array
    (
        [0] => Array
            (
                [description] => a photo name
                [image_src] => https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXX
            )
        [1] => Array
            (
                [description] => a photo name
                [image_src] => https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXX
            )
        [2] => Array
            (
                [description] => a photo name
                [image_src] => https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXX
            )

            and so on......
    )
)

But I get this:

Array
(
[photo] => Array
    (
        [0] => Array
            (
                [description] => a photo name
            )

        [1] => Array
            (
                [image_src] => https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXX
            )
        [2] => Array
            (
                [description] => a photo name
            )

        [3] => Array
            (
                [image_src] => https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-0/p480x480/XXXXXX
            )
and so on...

)
)

This is the code for my current loop:

foreach ($raw_facebook['albums']['data'] as $photos) { 
         if ($photos) {
                foreach ($photos['photos']['data'] as $photo) {
                    if ( (isset($photo['name']) && array_key_exists('name', $photo)) && (isset($photo['source']) && $this->array_key_exists_recursive('source', $photo)) ) {
                        $facebook['photo'][]['description'] = $photo['name'];
                        $facebook['photo'][]['image_src'] = $photo['source'];
                    }
                }

            }
}

When I modify this code to this:

foreach ($raw_facebook['albums']['data'] as $photos) { 
            if ($photos) {
                $i = 0;
                foreach ($photos['photos']['data'] as $photo) {
                    if ( (isset($photo['name']) && array_key_exists('name', $photo)) && (isset($photo['source']) && $this->array_key_exists_recursive('source', $photo)) ) {
                        $facebook['photo'][$i]['description'] = $photo['name'];
                        $facebook['photo'][$i]['image_src'] = $photo['source'];
                    }
                }
                $i++;

            }
}

I get a result similar to what I need, but with only 6 inner arrays (when there should be like 10 of them), showing the iteration isn't going correctly.

Please I'd appreciate to be pointed in the right direction.

you should take a look at array_map, it may be a lot easier than all those foreach loops. — andyrandy
– andyrandy, Commented May 30, 2016 at 19:16

Murad Hasan · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-30 18:56:20Z

1

Did this: array_push($facebook['photo'], array( 'description' => $photo['name'], 'image_src' => $photo['source'] ));

$facebook['photo'] = array();
foreach ($raw_facebook['albums']['data'] as $photos) { 
    if ($photos){
        foreach($photos['photos']['data'] as $photo) {
            if((isset($photo['name']) && array_key_exists('name', $photo)) && (isset($photo['source']) && $this->array_key_exists_recursive('source', $photo)) ){
                array_push($facebook['photo'], array( 'description' => $photo['name'], 'image_src' => $photo['source'] ));
            }
        }

    }
}

edited May 30, 2016 at 18:56

answered May 30, 2016 at 18:36

Murad Hasan

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6 Comments

Sam Over a year ago

thanks a lot @Frayne. I modified your first answer (before you editted); $facebook['photo'] = array( 'description' => $photo['name'], 'image_src' => $photo['source'] ); to $facebook['photo'][] = array( 'description' => $photo['name'], 'image_src' => $photo['source'] ); and used it, as array_push gave me an error, for some reason.

Murad Hasan Over a year ago

Did you try after the edit?? What error array push generate?

Sam Over a year ago

php error: array_push() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given

Murad Hasan Over a year ago

so you need to make $facebook['photo'] = array() first.

Sam Over a year ago

sweet! initializing $facebook['photo'] as an empty array solved it. thanks!

|

Aditya · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-30 18:43:14Z

1

Here you go

$data = $raw_facebook['albums']['data']; //indexed array of objects
$output = array('photo'    =>   array());
for($i = 0; $i< count($data); $i++){
    $photosdataarray = $data[$i]['photos']['data'];
    for($j = 0; $j < count($photosdataarray); $j++){
        $output['photo'][]  =    array(
            'description'    =>    $photosdataarray[$j]['name'],
            'image_src'    =>    'source',
        );
    }
}

answered May 30, 2016 at 18:43

Aditya

8515 silver badges8 bronze badges

1 Comment

Sam Over a year ago

thanks Aditya. I bet this would work too. But I'm going with @Frayne, since this answer will involve changing my code too much.

Dusan Kasan · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-30 19:13:44Z

0

Consider using collection pipeline for this kind of data processing. You'll end up with cleaner code (i.e. no foreach > if > foreach).

Example with your code (using Knapsack):

$photos = Collection::from($raw_facebook['albums']['data'])
  ->extract('photos.data')
  ->flatten(1)
  ->filter(function (array $data) {
      return isset($data['name']) 
        && isset($data['source'])
        && $this->array_key_exists_recursive('source', $data);
  })
  ->map(function (array $data) {
      return [
        'description' => $data['name'],
        'image_src' => $data['source']
      ];
  })
  ->values()
  ->toArray();

Libraries:

answered May 30, 2016 at 19:13

Dusan Kasan

835 bronze badges

3 Comments

Sam Over a year ago

ok, this looks really neat. but I'm almost at the end of the project (I don't want to implement anything new at this stage).. ..I'll maybe import the library later and try it out, for fun. thanks

Sam Over a year ago

how easily can the library be imported into Codeigniter? as that's the spec for the project

Dusan Kasan Over a year ago

Well, just composer require it and you are good to go. Works on PHP 5.6 and up. No external dependencies so it should be just fine in a CI project.

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