Question

1

I have an array:

$myArray = array('key1'=>'value1', 'key2'=>'value2');

I save it as a variable:

$fileContents = var_dump($myArray);

How can convert the variable back to use as a regular array?

echo $fileContents[0]; //output: value1
echo $fileContents[1]; //output: value2

edited Mar 26 at 5:01

Samuel
2,444●3●18

asked Mar 26 at 4:48

m.pete
13●2

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Paolo Bergantino · Accepted Answer · 3/26/2009 4:58:06 AM UTC

I think you might want to look into serialize and unserialize.

$myArray = array('key1'=>'value1', 'key2'=>'value2');
$serialized = serialize($myArray);
$myNewArray = unserialize($serialized);
print_r($myNewArray); // Array ( [key1] => value1 [key2] => value2 )

Binny V A · Answer 2 · 3/26/2009 5:46:50 AM UTC

serialize might be the right answer - but I prefer using JSON - human editing of the data will be possible that way...

$myArray = array('key1'=>'value1', 'key2'=>'value2');
$serialized = json_encode($myArray);
$myNewArray = json_decode($serialized);
print_r($myNewArray); // Array ( [key1] => value1 [key2] => value2 )

jakemcgraw · Answer 3 · 3/26/2009 4:55:45 AM UTC

Try using var_export to generate valid PHP syntax, write that to a file and then 'include' the file:

$myArray = array('key1'=>'value1', 'key2'=>'value2');
$fileContents = '<?php $myArray = '.var_export($myArray, true).'; ?>';

// ... after writing $fileContents to 'myFile.php'

include 'myFile.php';
echo $myArray['key1']; // Output: value1

Convert PHP array string into an array

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