How to add an array to an array

Question

I have an array items with some arrays. Now I want to add an array item_optional to the top of array items.

This is what I've tried, but I think this is not correct:

$item_optional = array(
    'harry' => array('name'=>'test1', 'code'=>1697, 'hmp'=>'x1')
);

$items = array(
    'denise'  => array('name'=>'test2', 'code'=>2697, 'hmp'=>'x2'),
    'mike'    => array('name'=>'test3', 'code'=>3697, 'hmp'=>'x3'),
    'richard' => array('name'=>'test4', 'code'=>4697, 'hmp'=>'x4')
);

array_unshift($items, $item_optional);

The output should be:

$items = array(
    'harry'   => array('name'=>'test1', 'code'=>1697, 'hmp'=>'x1'),
    'denise'  => array('name'=>'test2', 'code'=>2697, 'hmp'=>'x2'),
    'mike'    => array('name'=>'test3', 'code'=>3697, 'hmp'=>'x3'),
    'richard' => array('name'=>'test4', 'code'=>4697, 'hmp'=>'x4')
);

array_merge() array_merge — Merge one or more arrays php.net/manual/en/function.array-merge.php — Lucky Chingi
– Lucky Chingi, Commented Nov 12, 2015 at 16:05
php.net/manual/en/book.array.php even php.net/manual/en/function.array-combine.php could work here. You've many choices. — Funk Forty Niner
– Funk Forty Niner, Commented Nov 12, 2015 at 16:05

Kostas Mitsarakis · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-12 16:08:00Z

5

You can try:

$item_optional = array(
    'harry' => array('name'=>'test1', 'code'=>1697, 'hmp'=>'x1')
);

$items = array(
    'denise'  => array('name'=>'test2', 'code'=>2697, 'hmp'=>'x2'),
    'mike'    => array('name'=>'test3', 'code'=>3697, 'hmp'=>'x3'),
    'richard' => array('name'=>'test4', 'code'=>4697, 'hmp'=>'x4')
);

The code:

$items = $item_optional + $items;

Result:

array (size=4)
  'harry' => 
    array (size=3)
      'name' => string 'test1' (length=5)
      'code' => int 1697
      'hmp' => string 'x1' (length=2)
  'denise' => 
    array (size=3)
      'name' => string 'test2' (length=5)
      'code' => int 2697
      'hmp' => string 'x2' (length=2)
  'mike' => 
    array (size=3)
      'name' => string 'test3' (length=5)
      'code' => int 3697
      'hmp' => string 'x3' (length=2)
  'richard' => 
    array (size=3)
      'name' => string 'test4' (length=5)
      'code' => int 4697
      'hmp' => string 'x4' (length=2)

edited Nov 12, 2015 at 16:08

answered Nov 12, 2015 at 16:06

Kostas Mitsarakis

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5 Comments

Funk Forty Niner Over a year ago

$item_optional + $items this isn't JS ;-) + works?

Kostas Mitsarakis Over a year ago

Hm.. Sorry, I didn't get it. I think it works (at least for this case).

Funk Forty Niner Over a year ago

I guess there's something I don't know about arrays lol I thought "+" was the concatenate in JS, as opposed to a dot . in PHP. I learned something today ;-) weirdly.

Kostas Mitsarakis Over a year ago

Great, usually it's you that teach someone something. Here is a bit of knowledge to you as a compensation.

Funk Forty Niner Over a year ago

@KostasMitsarakis Everyone learns something from each other, no matter how much rep one has ;-)

Tobias · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-12 16:07:03Z

4

You can use array_merge().

This will put the array at the end of the other array. Then your first argument will be your array on top and the second argument will be the array on end.

$items = array_merge( $item_optional, $items );

More information: array_merge()

answered Nov 12, 2015 at 16:07

Tobias

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Comments

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 20:16:04Z

4

Try array_merge:

$items = array_merge( $item_optional, $items );

or you can use the + operator

$items = $item_optional + $items;

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 20:16

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Nov 12, 2015 at 16:05

Hasse Björk

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