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up vote 9 down vote favorite

This is such a simple problem but the PHP doc does not explain why it is happening.

I have this code:

var_dump($newattributes); var_dump($oldattributes);
var_dump(array_diff($newattributes, $oldattributes));

For briefity I am going to omit large parts of the structure I am actually using (since each is 117 elements long) and cut to the case.

I have one array called $newattributes which looks like:

array(117){
    // Lots of other attributes here
    ["deleted"] => int(1)
}

And another called $oldattributes which looks like:

array(117){
    // Lots of other attributes here
    ["deleted"] => string(1) "0"
}

Which looks different right? According to array_diff: no. The output I get from array_diff is:

array(0) { }

I have read the documentation page however it says:

Two elements are considered equal if and only if (string) $elem1 === (string) $elem2. In words: when the string representation is the same.

And I am not sure how "1" can object equal "0".

So am I seeing some caveat with array_diff I didn't take into consideration?

share|improve this question
2  
Good question, clear, well asked and not too long and too much code. More people should do it like this! +1 –  Hidde Aug 17 '12 at 10:41
2  
This shouldn't happen, and indeed it does not for me. –  Jon Aug 17 '12 at 10:42
    
@Jon Thanks for the test, I'll look more into my PHP build –  Sammaye Aug 17 '12 at 10:47

2 Answers 2

up vote 9 down vote accepted

The problem might reside in the fact that you are using associative arrays : you should try and use the following for associative arrays : array_diff_assoc(): 

<?php 
    $newattributes = array(
       "deleted" => 1 
    );

    $oldattributes = array(
       "deleted" => "0" 
    );

    $result = array_diff_assoc($newattributes, $oldattributes);

    var_dump($result);
?>

result : 

   array(1) {
       ["deleted"]=>
       int(1)
   }
share|improve this answer
    
Yea that worked, wow thats just insane –  Sammaye Aug 17 '12 at 10:56
    
you are welcome :) PHP is a very forgiving language, knowing the right functions at times usually does the right trick. –  DonSeba Aug 17 '12 at 10:57
    
+1 . You have awesome presence of mind. Associative arrays! –  KarmicDice Aug 17 '12 at 11:02
up vote 2 down vote

It does happen to me too (when there are more values than one)

$new = array('test' => true, 'bla' => 'test' 'deleted' => 1);
$old = array('test' => true, 'deleted' => '0');

For a full array_diff you need to make some extra work, because in default it returns a relative complement

Try this:

array_diff(array_merge($new, $old), array_intersect($new, $old))

Result:

Array
(
    [bla] => test
    [deleted] => 0
)
share|improve this answer
    
Indeed that works thanks, I have taken the other answer as the marked one since it doesn't need the merge or intersect but +1 for being first with a working and backing math, this is prolly what PHP does when comparing assoc –  Sammaye Aug 17 '12 at 10:58
    
That work around does the same as : array_diff_assoc() . great find though :) +1 –  DonSeba Aug 17 '12 at 10:59
    
Yeahh, array_diff_assoc obviously is way easier, didn't know that. SO is a great tool to learn extra things :) –  Dan Lee Aug 17 '12 at 11:54

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