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We can use array_unique() for remove duplicate entry from a single multidimensional array in php.Is it possible to use with multidimensional array? It is not working for me!

Here's what the array looks like

Array (
    [0] => Array ( [0] => 1001 [1] => john [2] => example )
    [1] => Array ( [0] => 1002 [1] => test [2] => dreamz )
    [2] => Array ( [0] => 1001 [1] => john [2] => example )
    [3] => Array ( [0] => 1001 [1] => example [2] => john )
    [4] => Array ( [0] => 1001 [1] => john [2] => example )
)

Anybody can please help me...

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Oh...sorry...sorry.. – mystack Aug 30 '10 at 6:31
1  
All functions like array_unique() are just a syntax sugar for really simple loops. With very little effort you can do it yourself for sure. Try to be more devious. Programming is not always just copy-pasting, sometimes it require more intelligent work. – Your Common Sense Aug 30 '10 at 6:48

3 Answers

up vote 9 down vote accepted

The user comments on the array_unique page do shed some light on this. You will most likely find some hidden gems in those comments - its a very handy documentation.

Just a quick browser through revealed the following to remove duplicates from a multi dimensional array:

<?php
function super_unique($array)
{
  $result = array_map("unserialize", array_unique(array_map("serialize", $array)));

  foreach ($result as $key => $value)
  {
    if ( is_array($value) )
    {
      $result[$key] = super_unique($value);
    }
  }

  return $result;
}
?>
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Thanks for the help Russell.The code works like a champ. – mystack Aug 30 '10 at 6:30
2  
@Ajith Don't you forget something? "Thanks for the help" is a green tick next to the answer. – Your Common Sense Aug 30 '10 at 6:50
up vote 1 down vote

You could serialize the sub-arrays (via serialize()) into a new array, then run array_unique() on that, and then unserialize the resulting set of arrays.

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up vote 1 down vote 
function super_unique($array)
{
    $result = array_map("unserialize", array_unique(array_map("serialize", $array)));

    foreach ($result as $key => $value)
    {
        if ( is_array($value) )
        {
            $result[$key] = super_unique($value);
        }
    }

    return $result;
}
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