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# array

(PHP 3, PHP 4 )

array -- Create an array

## Description

array array ( [mixed ...])

Returns an array of the parameters. The parameters can be given an index with the `=>` operator.

> Note: array() is a language construct used to represent literal arrays, and not a regular function.

Syntax "index => values", separated by commas, define index and values. index may be of type string or numeric. When index is omitted, a integer index is automatically generated, starting at 0. If index is an integer, next generated index will be the biggest integer index + 1. Note that when two identical index are defined, the last overwrite the first.

The following example demonstrates how to create a two-dimensional array, how to specify keys for associative arrays, and how to skip-and-continue numeric indices in normal arrays.

Example 1. array() example
    $fruits = array (
        "fruits"  => array ("a"=>"orange", "b"=>"banana", "c"=>"apple"),
        "numbers" => array (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6),
        "holes"   => array ("first", 5 => "second", "third")
    );

Example 2. Automatic index with array()
    $array = array( 1, 1, 1, 1,  1, 8=>1,  4=>1, 19, 3=>13);
    print_r($array);
will display :
    Array
    (
        [0] => 1
        [1] => 1
        [2] => 1
        [3] => 13
        [4] => 1
        [8] => 1
        [9] => 19
    )

Note that index '3' is defined twice, and keep its final value of 13. Index 4 is defined after index 8, and next generated index (value 19) is 9, since biggest index was 8.

This example creates a 1-based array.

Example 3. 1-based index with array()
    $firstquarter  = array(1 => 'January', 'February', 'March');
    print_r($firstquarter);
will display :
    Array
    (
        [1] => 'January'
        [2] => 'February'
        [3] => 'March'
    )

See also array_pad(), list(), and range().

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