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How to convert a string $string = 'array(array("a"=>"content"))'; (<-- this is string) into array like this:

array(1) { [0]=> array(1) { ["a"]=> string(7) "content" } }

I am going to build a function to run serialize online:

Input: $string = 'array(array(1))'; echo serialize($string);

Result: a:1:{i:0;a:1:{i:0;i:1;}} NOT s:16:"array(array(1)))";

You call: $returnValue = serialize('array(array(1))');

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2  
My question would be why you have such a string in the first place? –  Felix Kling Aug 10 at 14:24
2  
Please provide more context. You had two people answer eval when you already knew that eval is insecure and not a solution. Don't waste people's time suggesting things that you rule out right from the start. Note the section "Be specific" in stackoverflow.com/questions/ask-advice –  Gordon♦ Aug 10 at 14:48
 
@Gordon: I updated more info above. –  Truongnq Aug 10 at 15:11

2 Answers

up vote 0 down vote accepted

You /could/ use eval():

$string = 'array(array("a"=>"content"))';
eval("\$array = $string;");
print_r($array);

Output:

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [a] => content
        )

)

But if you're accepting user inputs, you should not use eval().

Also, consider using json_encode() / json_decode() instead.

Alternatively, to store arrays in strings, you could use serialize and unserialize.

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if $string get data from $_POST like: $string = $_POST['string']; Like this: $string = 'array(array("a"=>"content")); die("HACK: add more functions before this")'; eval("\$array = $string;"); print_r($array); –  Truongnq Aug 10 at 14:28
 
@Truongnq: see the updated answer. –  Amal Murali Aug 10 at 14:30
 
I still hack if using eval() $string = 'array(array("a"=>"content")); die("HACK: add more functions before this")'; eval("\$array = $string;"); print_r($array); Output: HACK: add more functions before this –  Truongnq Aug 10 at 14:36
 
@Truongnq If you are gettig the string from outside you should write a parser. It might be better to agree on something simpler, like JSON. –  Sylwester Aug 10 at 14:41
 
@Sylwester: thanks for you suggestion. –  Truongnq Aug 10 at 14:50
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up vote 0 down vote

eval? check http://php.net/manual/en/function.eval.php

take note on the Caution the manual shows...

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eval is not security when I public this kind of function only. I tried, and hacked it when use eval. –  Truongnq Aug 10 at 14:21
 
I tried: $reg_exp = "/array(*.*)/"; $subject ="array(array(1=>'123'))"; $result = preg_split($reg_exp,$subject); var_dump($result); Output: array(2) { [0]=> string(0) "" [1]=> string(0) "" } but this is NOT correct. Please help! –  Truongnq Aug 10 at 14:26

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