Multi-dimensional arrays. Sounds like it came from some 1950s Sci-Fi novel. Anywho, multi-dimensional arrays
are simply arrays within arrays. You remember eariler how I was putting variables into arrays? Well now I'm
stuffing arrays into arrays. For example, let's say I run an on-line bookstore and I sell novels, kid's books,
and magazines, and I put the names of those into arrays. In code, it'd look like:
<?php $arrayNovels = array("Andromeda Strain", "Rainbow Six", "Lord of the Rings"); $arrayKidBooks = array("Jack and Jill", "Clifford the Big Red Dog", "How Stuff Works"); $arrayMagazines = array("Motorcycle World", "Guitar One", "Car and Driver"); ?>
Now this is fairly condensed, but I can stuff all three arrays into an array called
$arrayInventory. Using what I've already talked about, this is how it's done:
<?php $arrayNovels = array("Andromeda Strain", "Rainbow Six", "Lord of the Rings"); $arrayKidBooks = array("Jack and Jill", "Clifford the Big Red Dog", "How Stuff Works"); $arrayMagazines = array("Motorcycle World", "Guitar One", "Car and Driver");
$arrayInventory = array(); $arrayInventory["arrayNovels"] = $arrayNovels; // this is the same as index 0 $arrayInventory["arrayKidBooks"] = $arrayKidBooks; // this is the same as index 1 $arrayInventory["arrayMagazines"] = $arrayMagazines; // this is the same as index 2 ?>
So now I can print them out using for-loops (assume that the above code is included):
<?php $nSizeInv = count($ArrayInventory); for($indexInv=0; $indexInv < $nSizeInv; $indexInv++) { if($indexInv==0) // remember that index 0 is the array for novels { $arrayNovels = $ArrayInventory[$index]; $nSizeNovels = count($arrayNovels); for($indexNov=0; $indexNov < $nSizeNovels; $indexNov++) { $sNovel = $arrayNovels[$indexNov]; print "Novel: $sNovel"; } } if($indexInv==1) // remember that index 1 is the array for kid's books { $arrayKidsBooks = $ArrayInventory[$index]; $nSizeKbooks = count($arrayKidsBooks); for($indexKbook=0; $indexKbook < $nSizeKbooks; $indexKbook++) { $sKidsBook = $arrayKidsBooks[$indexKbook]; print "Kids book: $sKidsbook"; } } if($indexInv==2) // remember that index 2 is the array for magazines { $arrayMagazines = $ArrayInventory[$index]; $nSizeMags = count($arrayMagazines); for($indexMags=0; $indexMags < $nSizeMags; $indexMags++) { $sMagazine = $arrayMagazines[$indexMags]; print "Magazine: $sMagazine"; } } } ?>
So there you have it. You can now create, fill, and use arrays for all your scripting needs. Drop me a line at
the address above if you have a specific question about arrays or PHP in general. Thanks, and may the
code be with you.
