Best Way to Initialize (Empty) Array in PHP

Best way to initialize (empty) array in PHP

In ECMAScript implementations (for instance, ActionScript or JavaScript), Array() is a constructor function and [] is part of the array literal grammar. Both are optimized and executed in completely different ways, with the literal grammar not being dogged by the overhead of calling a function.

PHP, on the other hand, has language constructs that may look like functions but aren't treated as such. Even with PHP 5.4, which supports [] as an alternative, there is no difference in overhead because, as far as the compiler/parser is concerned, they are completely synonymous.

// Before 5.4, you could only write
$array = array(
    "foo" => "bar",
    "bar" => "foo",
);

// As of PHP 5.4, the following is synonymous with the above
$array = [
    "foo" => "bar",
    "bar" => "foo",
];

If you need to support older versions of PHP, use the former syntax. There's also an argument for readability but, being a long-time JS developer, the latter seems rather natural to me.  I actually made the mistake of trying to initialise arrays using [] when I was first learning PHP.

This change to the language was originally proposed and rejected due to a majority vote against by core developers with the following reason:

This patch will not be accepted because slight majority of the core developers voted against. Though if you take a accumulated mean between core developers and userland votes seems to show the opposite it would be irresponsible to submit a patch witch is not supported or maintained in the long run.

However, it appears there was a change of heart leading up to 5.4, perhaps influenced by the implementations of support for popular databases like MongoDB (which use ECMAScript syntax).

How to create an empty array in PHP with predefined size?

There is no way to create an array of a predefined size without also supplying values for the elements of that array.

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The best way to initialize an array like that is array_fill. By far preferable over the various loop-and-insert solutions.

$my_array = array_fill(0, $size_of_the_array, $some_data);

Every position in the $my_array will contain $some_data.

The first zero in array_fill just indicates the index from where the array needs to be filled with the value.

Efficiency of using foreach loops to clear a PHP array's values

Like Zack said in the comments below you are able to simply re-instantiate it using

$foo = array(); // $foo is still here

If you want something more powerful use unset since it also will clear $foo from the symbol table, if you need the array later on just instantiate it again.

unset($foo); // $foo is gone
$foo = array(); // $foo is here again

If we are talking about very large tables I'd probably recommend

$foo = null; 
unset($foo); 

since that also would clear the memory a bit better. That behavior (GC) is however not very constant and may change over PHP versions. Bear in mind that re-instantiating a structure is not the same as emptying it.

Initialize an Associative Array with Key Names but Empty Values

What you have is the most clear option.

But you could shorten it using array_fill_keys, like this:

$database = array_fill_keys(
  array('dbdriver', 'dbhost', 'dbname', 'dbuser', 'dbpass'), '');

But if the user has to fill the values anyway, you can just leave the array empty, and just provide the example code in index.php. The keys will automatically be added when you assign a value.

(PHP) Initialize empty multidimensional array and then fill it

very short answer:

$other_matches_info_array = array();
// or $other_matches_info_array = []; - it's "common" to init arrays like this in php

$other_matches_name = "carmen";
$other_matches_id = 3;
$other_matches_work = "SON";

$other_matches_info_array[] = [ 
    'id' => $other_matches_id,
    'name' => $other_matches_name
];
// so, this means: new element of $other_matches_info_array = new array that is declared like this.

How to add elements to an empty array in PHP?

Both array_push and the method you described will work.

$cart = array();
$cart[] = 13;
$cart[] = 14;
// etc

//Above is correct. but below one is for further understanding
$cart = array();
for($i=0;$i<=5;$i++){
    $cart[] = $i;  
}
echo "<pre>";
print_r($cart);
echo "</pre>";

Is the same as:

<?php
$cart = array();
array_push($cart, 13);
array_push($cart, 14);

// Or 
$cart = array();
array_push($cart, 13, 14);
?>

How to check whether an array is empty using PHP?

If you just need to check if there are ANY elements in the array, you can use either the array itself, due to PHP's loose typing, or - if you prefer a stricter approach - use count():

if (!$playerlist) {
     // list is empty.
}
if (count($playerlist) === 0) {
     // list is empty.
}

If you need to clean out empty values before checking (generally done to prevent explodeing weird strings):

foreach ($playerlist as $key => $value) {
    if (!strlen($value)) {
       unset($playerlist[$key]);
    }
}
if (!$playerlist) {
   //empty array
}

possible to initialize a PHP array with keys only?

If you have array of keys, array_fill_keys is the most elegant way to "reset" the array. The other way that makes sense is array_map, but for your simple task it seems like a little overhead.

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