Can't concatenate 2 arrays in PHP
PhpArraysConcatenationPhp Problem Overview
I've recently learned how to join 2 arrays using the + operator in PHP.
But consider this code...
$array = array('Item 1');
$array += array('Item 2');
var_dump($array);
Output is
> array(1) { [0]=> string(6) "Item > 1" }
Why does this not work? Skipping the shorthand and using $array = $array + array('Item 2')
does not work either. Does it have something to do with the keys?
Php Solutions
Solution 1 - Php
Both will have a key of 0
, and that method of combining the arrays will collapse duplicates. Try using array_merge()
instead.
$arr1 = array('foo'); // Same as array(0 => 'foo')
$arr2 = array('bar'); // Same as array(0 => 'bar')
// Will contain array('foo', 'bar');
$combined = array_merge($arr1, $arr2);
If the elements in your array used different keys, the +
operator would be more appropriate.
$arr1 = array('one' => 'foo');
$arr2 = array('two' => 'bar');
// Will contain array('one' => 'foo', 'two' => 'bar');
$combined = $arr1 + $arr2;
Edit: Added a code snippet to clarify
Solution 2 - Php
Use array_merge()
See the documentation here:
http://php.net/manual/en/function.array-merge.php
> Merges the elements of one or more arrays together so that the values of one are appended to the end of the previous one. It returns the resulting array.
Solution 3 - Php
IMO some of the previous answers are incorrect! (It's possible to sort the answers to start from oldest to newest).
array_merge()
actually merges the arrays, meaning, if the arrays have a common item one of the copies will be omitted. Same goes for +
(union).
I didn't find a "work-around" for this issue, but to do it manually...
Here it goes:
<?php
$part1 = array(1,2,3);
echo "array 1 = \n";
print_r($part1);
$part2 = array(4,5,6);
echo "array 2 = \n";
print_r($part2);
$ans = NULL;
for ($i = 0; $i < count($part1); $i++) {
$ans[] = $part1[$i];
}
for ($i = 0; $i < count($part2); $i++) {
$ans[] = $part2[$i];
}
echo "after arrays concatenation:\n";
print_r($ans);
?>
Solution 4 - Php
use the splat ( or spread ) operator:
$animals = ['dog', 'cat', 'snake', 'pig', 'chicken'];
$fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'water melon'];
$things = [...$animals, ...$fruits];
source: https://www.kindacode.com/article/merging-arrays-in-php-7/
Solution 5 - Php
+
is called the Union operator, which differs from a Concatenation operator (PHP doesn't have one for arrays). The description clearly says:
> The + operator appends elements of remaining keys from the right handed array to the left handed, whereas duplicated keys are NOT overwritten.
With the example:
$a = array("a" => "apple", "b" => "banana");
$b = array("a" => "pear", "b" => "strawberry", "c" => "cherry");
$c = $a + $b;
array(3) {
["a"]=>
string(5) "apple"
["b"]=>
string(6) "banana"
["c"]=>
string(6) "cherry"
}
Since both your arrays have one entry with the key 0
, the result is expected.
To concatenate, use array_merge
.
Solution 6 - Php
Try array_merge.
$array1 = array('Item 1');
$array2 = array('Item 2');
$array3 = array_merge($array1, $array2);
I think its because you are not assigning a key to either, so they both have key of 0, and the + does not re-index, so its trying to over write it.
Solution 7 - Php
It is indeed a key conflict. When concatenating arrays, duplicate keys are not overwritten.
Instead you must use array_merge()
$array = array_merge(array('Item 1'), array('Item 2'));
Solution 8 - Php
$array = array('Item 1');
array_push($array,'Item 2');
or
$array[] = 'Item 2';
Solution 9 - Php
This works for non-associative arrays:
while(($item = array_shift($array2)) !== null && array_push($array1, $item));
Solution 10 - Php
Try saying
$array[] = array('Item 2');
Although it looks like you're trying to add an array into an array, thus $array[][]
but that's not what your title suggests.
Solution 11 - Php
you may use operator . $array3 = $array1.$array2;