Comparing current element with previous element in PHP multi-dimensional array

Question

The goal is to compare the current array element qty with the previous and if the condition is met return success, i.e: if current element qty is 0 and the previous element qty is greater than 5 return.

Research keeps popping up PHP's current(), next(), and prev() tools however I'm not getting the return I hope for with these attempts:

1.
for($i = 0; $i < $length -1; ++$i){
  if(current($myArray[0]['qty']) == 0 && prev($myArray[0]['qty']) > 5){
    echo 'success!';
  }
}

2.
foreach($myArray as $item){
  if(current($item['qty']) == 0 && prev($item['qty'] > 5)){
    echo 'success!';
  } else {
    continue;
  }
}

Admittedly I'm not familiar with all of PHP's available tools and options so if there's something else I should be learning about and using I'd be grateful for suggestions.

Here's my sample array:

$myArray = Array
(
  [0] => Array
    (
      [0] => foo
      [name] => foo
      [1] => 15
      [qty] => 15
    )
  [1] => Array
    (
      [0] => bar
      [name] => bar
      [1] => 0
      [qty] => 0
    )
  [2] => Array
    (
      [0] => baz
      [name] => baz
      [1] => 47
      [qty] => 47
    )
)

My desired result would be the following for an automatic email: **bar** is empty, check **foo** for replenishment!

You could start by de-complexing the array. use fetch_assoc() as then you will not have the numbered occurances as well as the names occurances — RiggsFolly
– RiggsFolly, Commented May 9, 2018 at 14:20
I am pretty sure you should be getting some error messages that should be pointing you towards a solution, what are they — RiggsFolly
– RiggsFolly, Commented May 9, 2018 at 14:22
so if there's something else I should be learning about and using I'd be grateful for suggestions How about how to use $i from your for loop to address the array ? — RiggsFolly
– RiggsFolly, Commented May 9, 2018 at 14:23
I de-complexed the array per @RiggsFolly. The error messages I'm receiving are: "Cannot use a scalar value as an array" and/or "prev() expects parameter 1 to be array, integer given" — mezzomix
– mezzomix, Commented May 9, 2018 at 14:39

Syscall · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-09 14:40:30Z

2

You cannot use prev() to get the previous element of an array during a for loop, because the loop doesn't change the internal array pointer. Also, the prev() function should be used on the array, not on a value.

You can use the index of the foreach() and check if the $array[$index-1] exists and if its value match to your condition:

$myArray = array(
  0 => array(0 => 'foo', 'name' => 'foo', 1 => 15, 'qty' => 15),
  1 => array(0 => 'bar', 'name' => 'bar', 1 => 0, 'qty' => 0),
  2 => array(0 => 'baz', 'name' => 'baz', 1 => 47, 'qty' => 47)
);

foreach ($myArray as $index => $item) {
  // if index is greater than zero, you could access to previous element:
  if ($item['qty'] == 0 && $index > 0 && $myArray[$index-1]['qty'] > 5) {
    $current_name = $item['name'];
    $previous_name = $myArray[$index-1]['name'];
    echo "'$current_name' is empty, check '$previous_name' for replenishment!";
  } else {
    continue;
  }
}

Output:

'bar' is empty, check 'foo' for replenishment!

answered May 9, 2018 at 14:40

Syscall

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2 Comments

mezzomix Over a year ago

I can see where [$i-1] steps back only once in the array, is there a way to compare against all previous indexes? Would I need to ask a new question?

mezzomix Over a year ago

Ack, ignore me. I was able to find [--$i] for the above

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