How to convert an array into an object using stdClass()

Php Problem Overview

I have made the following array:

$clasa = array(
		'e1' => array('nume' => 'Nitu', 'prenume' => 'Andrei', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
		'e2' => array('nume' => 'Nae', 'prenume' => 'Ionel', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 27),
		'e3' => array('nume' => 'Noman', 'prenume' => 'Alice', 'sex' => 'f', 'varsta' => 22),
		'e4' => array('nume' => 'Geangos', 'prenume' => 'Bogdan', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
		'e5' => array('nume' => 'Vasile', 'prenume' => 'Mihai', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 25)
);

I would like to know how to convert this array into an object using stdClass(), I'm a PHP beginner, a simple example would be very helpful, I've tried searching for similar questions, but the answers are complicated and go beyond my understanding of basic classes and objects.

Php Solutions

Solution 1 - Php

You just add this code

$clasa = (object) array(
            'e1' => array('nume' => 'Nitu', 'prenume' => 'Andrei', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
            'e2' => array('nume' => 'Nae', 'prenume' => 'Ionel', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 27),
            'e3' => array('nume' => 'Noman', 'prenume' => 'Alice', 'sex' => 'f', 'varsta' => 22),
            'e4' => array('nume' => 'Geangos', 'prenume' => 'Bogdan', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
            'e5' => array('nume' => 'Vasile', 'prenume' => 'Mihai', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 25)
);

If you want to see is this stdClass object just call this

print_r($clasa);

If you want to convert an array to object code will be

$arr = array('a'=>'apple','b'=>'ball');
$arr = (object) $arr;

You don't need to use stdClass. It will automatically converted to stdClass

Solution 2 - Php

The quick and dirty way is using json_encode and json_decode which will turn the entire array (including sub elements) into an object.

$clasa = json_decode(json_encode($clasa)); //Turn it into an object

The same can be used to convert an object into an array. Simply add , true to json_decode to return an associated array:

$clasa = json_decode(json_encode($clasa), true); //Turn it into an array

An alternate way (without being dirty) is simply a recursive function:

function convertToObject($array) {
	$object = new stdClass();
	foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
		if (is_array($value)) {
			$value = convertToObject($value);
		}
		$object->$key = $value;
	}
	return $object;
}

or in full code:

<?php
	function convertToObject($array) {
		$object = new stdClass();
		foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
			if (is_array($value)) {
				$value = convertToObject($value);
			}
			$object->$key = $value;
		}
		return $object;
	}

	$clasa = array(
			'e1' => array('nume' => 'Nitu', 'prenume' => 'Andrei', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
			'e2' => array('nume' => 'Nae', 'prenume' => 'Ionel', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 27),
			'e3' => array('nume' => 'Noman', 'prenume' => 'Alice', 'sex' => 'f', 'varsta' => 22),
			'e4' => array('nume' => 'Geangos', 'prenume' => 'Bogdan', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 23),
			'e5' => array('nume' => 'Vasile', 'prenume' => 'Mihai', 'sex' => 'm', 'varsta' => 25)
	);

	$obj = convertToObject($clasa);
	print_r($obj);
?>

which outputs (note that there's no arrays - only stdClass's):

stdClass Object
(
    [e1] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nume] => Nitu
            [prenume] => Andrei
            [sex] => m
            [varsta] => 23
        )

    [e2] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nume] => Nae
            [prenume] => Ionel
            [sex] => m
            [varsta] => 27
        )

    [e3] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nume] => Noman
            [prenume] => Alice
            [sex] => f
            [varsta] => 22
        )

    [e4] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nume] => Geangos
            [prenume] => Bogdan
            [sex] => m
            [varsta] => 23
        )

    [e5] => stdClass Object
        (
            [nume] => Vasile
            [prenume] => Mihai
            [sex] => m
            [varsta] => 25
        )

)

So you'd refer to it by $obj->e5->nume.

DEMO

Solution 3 - Php

If you want to recursively convert the entire array into an Object type (stdClass) then , below is the best method and it's not time-consuming or memory deficient especially when you want to do a recursive (multi-level) conversion compared to writing your own function.

$array_object = json_decode(json_encode($array));

Solution 4 - Php

One of the easiest solution is

$objectData = (object) $arrayData

Solution 5 - Php

To convert array to object using stdClass just add (object) to array u declare.

EX:

echo $array['value'];
echo $object->value;

to convert object to array

$obj = (object)$array;

to convert array to object

$arr = (array)$object

with these methods you can swap between array and object very easily.

Another method is to use json

$object = json_decode(json_encode($array), FALSE);

But this is a much more memory intensive way to do and is not supported by versions of PHP <= 5.1

Solution 6 - Php

Array to stdClass can be done in php this way. (stdClass is already PHP's generic empty class)

$a = stdClass:: __set_state(array());

Actually calling stdClass::__set_state() in PHP 5 will produce a fatal error. thanks @Ozzy for pointing out

This is an example of how you can use __set_state() with a stdClass object in PHP5

class stdClassHelper{

    public static function __set_state(array $array){
        $stdClass = new stdClass();
        foreach ($array as $key => $value){
           $stdClass->$key = $value;
        }
        return $stdClass;
    }
}

$newstd = stdClassHelper::__set_state(array());

Or a nicer way.

$a = (object) array();

Solution 7 - Php

or you can use this thing

$arr = [1,2,3];
$obj = json_decode(json_encode($arr));
print_r($obj);

Solution 8 - Php

use this Tutorial

<?php
function objectToArray($d) {
		if (is_object($d)) {
			// Gets the properties of the given object
			// with get_object_vars function
			$d = get_object_vars($d);
		}
 
		if (is_array($d)) {
			/*
			* Return array converted to object
			* Using __FUNCTION__ (Magic constant)
			* for recursive call
			*/
			return array_map(__FUNCTION__, $d);
		}
		else {
			// Return array
			return $d;
		}
	}
	
	function arrayToObject($d) {
		if (is_array($d)) {
			/*
			* Return array converted to object
			* Using __FUNCTION__ (Magic constant)
			* for recursive call
			*/
			return (object) array_map(__FUNCTION__, $d);
		}
		else {
			// Return object
			return $d;
		}
	}
	
		// Create new stdClass Object
	$init = new stdClass;
 
	// Add some test data
	$init->foo = "Test data";
	$init->bar = new stdClass;
	$init->bar->baaz = "Testing";
	$init->bar->fooz = new stdClass;
	$init->bar->fooz->baz = "Testing again";
	$init->foox = "Just test";
 
	// Convert array to object and then object back to array
	$array = objectToArray($init);
	$object = arrayToObject($array);
 
	// Print objects and array
	print_r($init);
	echo "\n";
	print_r($array);
	echo "\n";
	print_r($object);
	

//OUTPUT
	stdClass Object
(
    [foo] => Test data
    [bar] => stdClass Object
        (
            [baaz] => Testing
            [fooz] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [baz] => Testing again
                )

        )

    [foox] => Just test
)

Array
(
    [foo] => Test data
    [bar] => Array
        (
            [baaz] => Testing
            [fooz] => Array
                (
                    [baz] => Testing again
                )

        )

    [foox] => Just test
)

stdClass Object
(
    [foo] => Test data
    [bar] => stdClass Object
        (
            [baaz] => Testing
            [fooz] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [baz] => Testing again
                )

        )

    [foox] => Just test
)

Content Type	Original Author	Original Content on Stackoverflow
Question	Alexandrw	View Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - Php	Ekramul Hoque	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - Php	h2ooooooo	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - Php	darleys	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - Php	SESN	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 5 - Php	Vikas_web	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 6 - Php	Beaudinn Greve	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 7 - Php	yussan	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 8 - Php	Shakti Patel	View Answer on Stackoverflow