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I am working with CodeIgniter and have created a custom form preferences custom config. In that I have an array that is as follows:

Array
(
  [1] => Category 1
  [2] => Category 2
  [3] => Category 3
  [4] => Category 4
  [5] => Category 5   
)

I am passing that to the view as the var $service_categories what I'd then like to do is match it to the "value" that is in the database. I.E 5. If it matches then show Category 5 in the view. At the moment I am just showing 5 - This is no good to the user.

The variable $service->service_category is a number.

The var service produces:

Array
(
    [0] => stdClass Object
    (
        [service_id] => 3
        [organisation_id] => 2
        [service_name] => Edited Service 3
        [service_description] => This is service 3 provided by
        [service_category] => 5
        [service_metadata] => Metadata for service 3 - Edited
        [service_cost] => 22.00
        [service_active] => active
    )
)

My current PHP for this is as follows:

if (in_array($service->service_category, $service_categories))
{
   echo "Exists";
}

However, the Exists is not showing in the view. It is showing nothing at all.

Am I doing something wrong with the in_array method?

share|improve this question
can you post var_dump($service) here ? – Marek Sebera Jul 12 '12 at 11:06
Sure I've added it to the question – StuBlackett Jul 12 '12 at 11:09
On a side note: this is a very good way to ask a question, the information is thorough enough :) – Berry Langerak Jul 12 '12 at 11:10
the variable is a number but your comparing it with text 'Category 5' – Waygood Jul 12 '12 at 11:11
is the index the ID or just the index of the array (as there is no 0)? – Waygood Jul 12 '12 at 11:14
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4 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

in_array() checks if a value exists in the array. So in_array('Category 1', $service_categories) would work.

However, to check if a key is present in an array, you can use:

if(array_key_exists($service->service_category, $service_categories)) {
    echo "Exists";
}

I think, this is what you're looking for.

share|improve this answer
Brilliant, Thats bringing it back. I'll try working out how to match the names up now – StuBlackett Jul 12 '12 at 11:12
isset() could also be used. However, as isset() checks if the key exists and the value is not null, I would prefer using array_key_exists(), as it only checks for key existence. – Dennis Møllegaard Pedersen Jul 12 '12 at 11:26
up vote 4 down vote

The variable : $service->service_category is a number.

And that precisely is the problem: your testing to see if "5" is equal to "Category 5", which it is obviously not. Simplest solution would be to prepend the "5" with "Category ":

<?php
$category = 'Category ' . $service->service_category;

if (in_array($category, $service_categories)) {
   echo "Exists";
}

EDIT: If you want to check if the array key exists (because '5' => 'Category 5'), this could be achieved with isset( ) or array_key_exists.

<?php
if (array_key_exists ($service->service_category, $service_categories )) {
   echo "Exists";
}

// does the same:
if (isset ($service_categories[service->service_category] )) {
   echo "Exists";
}
share|improve this answer
up vote 2 down vote

I think array_key_exists is the function you might search.

share|improve this answer
up vote 2 down vote 
if (isset($service_categories[$service->service_category])) {
   echo "Exists";
}
share|improve this answer

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