Parse Array Formated String as an Array in PHP

Question

I am having an array formatted string stored in a variable where i need to convert it in to real array

here is my code

$hello ="array( 
    'numberposts' => -1, 
    'post_type' => 'post', 
    'meta_query' => array( 
        'relation' => 'AND',
             array( 
                'key' => 'subject_id', 
                'value' => 'CE6301', 
                'compare' => '=' 
                ),
             array( 
                'key' => 'regulation', 
                'value' => '2013', 
                'compare' => '=' 
                ),
             )
    )";

So here is an array that i need to convert as formated array in php

So when my array is printed it should look something like this

Array ( [numberposts] => -1 [post_type] => post [meta_query] => Array ( [relation] => AND [0] => Array ( [key] => subject_id [value] => CE6301 [compare] => = ) [1] => Array ( [key] => regulation [value] => 2013 [compare] => = ) ) )

What function i have to use in php to convert string array into an normal array

If you can help it, you may want to step back and choose JSON over an "array formatted string." It seems you are seeking a solution to a problem which you are creating. — user1477388
– user1477388, Commented Aug 30, 2014 at 12:07
eval function is not working , even i parsed as json_encode() not working, i encoded as JSON and i used eval, printing same like normal string but not as an array — musthafa
– musthafa, Commented Aug 30, 2014 at 12:24

Kevin · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-30 12:39:41Z

1

I don't know how you got hold of this but you can use eval() on this one. Just modify the string a little bit to create a valid array in the end. Example:

$hello ="array( 
    'numberposts' => -1, 
    'post_type' => 'post', 
    'meta_query' => array( 
        'relation' => 'AND',
             array( 
                'key' => 'subject_id', 
                'value' => 'CE6301', 
                'compare' => '=' 
                ),
             array( 
                'key' => 'regulation', 
                'value' => '2013', 
                'compare' => '=' 
                ),
             )
)";

$hello = '$hello = ' . $hello . ';';
eval($hello);
echo '<pre>';
print_r($hello);

answered Aug 30, 2014 at 12:39

Kevin

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2 Comments

musthafa Over a year ago

As like same i have tried the eval function , but not works for me, but i copied your code it works perfect, Anyway Thank you ghost this is what i expected

Martijn Over a year ago

Again, read some info about eval(), you could potentially create a security problem. Eval should a last-option-solution only.

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