Tell me more ×
Stack Overflow is a question and answer site for professional and enthusiast programmers. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite

I've encoded an Array I've made using the inbuilt json_encode(); function. I need it in the format of an Array of Arrays like so:

[["Afghanistan",32,12],["Albania",32,12]]

However, it is returning as:

["2":["Afghanistan",32,12],"4":["Albania",32,12]]

How can I remove these row numbers without using any Regex trickery?

share|improve this question
What is your input array? – Dr. Dan Jul 30 '12 at 12:58
Can you show us the more of the code so we have an idea of what else you are doing? – Jim Jul 30 '12 at 12:58
2  
["2":["Afghanistan",32,12],"4":["Albania",32,12]] is not even valid JSON, so I doubt you get that. If your top level array is associative just call array_values() to get consecutive indexed elements. – Felix Kling Jul 30 '12 at 12:59
of interest to this topic too: php.net/manual/en/function.json-encode.php#105923 – Ben Jul 30 '12 at 13:07
add comment (requires an account with 50 reputation)

2 Answers

up vote 9 down vote accepted

If the array keys in your PHP array are not consecutive numbers, json_encode() must make the other construct an object since JavaScript arrays are always consecutively numerically indexed. Use array_values() on the outer structure in PHP to discard the original array keys and replace them with zero-based consecutive numbering:

Example:

// Non-consecutive number keys are OK for PHP
// but not for a JavaScript array
$array = array(
  2 => array("Afghanistan",32,13),
  4 => array("Albania",32,12)
);

// array_values() removes the original keys and replaces
// with plain consecutive numbers
$out = array_values($array);
json_encode($out);
// [["Afghanistan",32,13],["Albania",32,12]]
share|improve this answer
+1 was about to write the same.. array_values is definitely the way to go – Ben Jul 30 '12 at 13:01
1  
@Michael.. Maybe you need 78k+ points to insert links now :) – Ben Jul 30 '12 at 13:03
Heyy.. http:// silly me.. you just need a 78k+ brain is all :) – Ben Jul 30 '12 at 13:04
Worked a treat - thank you! – Brodie Jul 30 '12 at 15:20
add comment (requires an account with 50 reputation)
up vote 0 down vote

If you don't specify indexes on your initial array, you get the regular numric ones. Arrays must have some form of unique index

share|improve this answer
add comment (requires an account with 50 reputation)

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.