PHP Simple Array Example

This page shows how to use PHP's arrays.

//there are two types of arrays: "regular" arrays and associative arrays
//this example shows how to create a regular array

//think of a regular array as just a list of variables all contained within one array variable
		

Defining Arrays

You define an array using PHP's built-in array() function

$arrPeople = array("Tandi", "Jack", "Susan", "Donny", "Michaela", "Joshua");
		

Debugging the Contents of Arrays

You can easily output the raw contents of an array using PHP's built-in print_r() function:

print_r($arrPeople);
		

Array
(
    [0] => Tandi
    [1] => Jack
    [2] => Susan
    [3] => Donny
    [4] => Michaela
    [5] => Joshua
)

Looping Through Arrays

you can loop through the contents of an array easily by using PHP's foreach() statement:

foreach ($arrPeople as $person) {
	echo $person . "<br />";
}
		

Accessing an Individual Element in an Array

Simple arrays are indexed by numbers, starting from 0. Use an index number in brackets to access an individual element.

So $arrPeople[2] will hold the name of the third person in the list: